The Easiest, Breeziest Pants You'll Ever Pull On Also Happen to Look Like a Million Bucks
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SHOP $280, matchesfashion.com
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There's something in the air. Is it the sound of millions of celebratory shouts as we inch closer to Big Vax Summer? Is it the existential exhaustion of wearing the same thing over and over again? Probably both of those and more. But whatever the exact combination of causes is, the result is the same: We are starting to crawl out of our caves. We're blinking into the sun. And we're realizing it's time to wear pants—actual pants—again.
If that thought fills you with some degree of dread, you're not alone. I have, for sure, developed a new appreciation for fleece-lined everything over the last year-plus. But it's warming up. "Optimism" doesn't feel like a bad word anymore. And the prospect of putting on something approaching "polished" is actually kind of thrilling. Less exciting, perhaps, is the prospect of contending with hard pants and their unforgiving waistbands.
Well, I've got good news, in the form of Issey Miyake Homme Plissé's pleated trousers. They're a marvel of materials engineering. They're some of the sharpest and coolest—and yet easiest and breeziest—pants on the market. And you can pull 'em on just like your favorite sweats.
First, a little backstory.
You might know Issey Miyake's name already. The legendary Japanese designer famously created the black, mock-neck pullovers that became Steve Jobs' signature. But he did a whole lot more than that. Back in the '80s, he innovated a new way to create pleated clothing by feeding the entire garment into a heat press along with layers of paper. The result was an all-over-pleated piece that retained its shape and looked pretty damn cool to boot, with a futuristic, almost architectural vibe. The effect remains visually arresting, but there's also a functional element. Which brings me to my next point.
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These are perfect summer pants.
Because the pleating process uses lightweight, technical polyester and makes the fabric sit away from the skin of the wearer, Miyake's Homme Plissé trousers feel incredibly airy. We're talking, "Oh my god did I forget to put on pants?" levels of breeziness. And because of the accordion construction, they flex and move with you effortlessly. (A note on that construction: Because of it, the pants can stretch to fit just about any size waist, so they're actually sized according to height. Size 1 is shorter, size 2 a little longer, etc. Make sure to consult the size chart and find where your height falls on it before buying.)
Shorts are great and all, but sometimes they're not an option. Linen trousers? Depending on your tolerance for general rumpledness, maybe not the best choice. But Miyake's pleated pants cut a clean line while keeping your core temperature from rising. When it's blazing out but you want to look your best, that's a big deal.
They look good with everything. No, really.
So, about those aesthetics. They might feel a little alien if you're used to jeans and chinos. But you should really think of these pants as a more-forward take on your go-to navy trousers. And you know what's cool about those? They can work with just about everything in your closet, elevating even the most casual items along the way. Throw these pants on with a T-shirt and suddenly you're exactly 142 percent more pulled-together. Wear 'em with a sport coat and an oxford cloth button-down, and you've got your summer wedding look well and sorted—all while ensuring you won't overheat on the dance floor. With a camp-collar shirt and an easy pair of sneakers? That's for every other day from now until well...maybe forever.
SHOP $280, matchesfashion.com
Photography and prop styling by Allie Holloway and Timothy Mulcare
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