Tired of the usual blues and browns?
If you’re like most guys, your wardrobe could use a shot of color. Olive green pants offer a sophisticated upgrade that’s perfect for the office or a night out. There’s a reason it’s a go-to for stylish men — this versatile color adds a touch of quiet confidence and understated cool to any outfit.
Here’s our guide to adding this timeless color to your wardrobe.
Olive the things you need to know about green pants
Olive green is a great color because it goes with almost anything. You can pair it with neutrals, classic white or black, mix it up with oranges or purples, or even go bold with some green-on-green action. But before we get into the plethora of sartorial choices awaiting you, let’s talk about the different types of olive green pants.
Jetsetter Slim Fit olive green pants
Our Slim Fit Tech pants in olive green combine effortless cool with a sleek, athletic fit. This classic deep olive is perfect with a black fitted tee, or dressed up with a light blue dress shirt and tan jacket.
Made from premium Rebound™ fabric — sourced from Japan — they stay dry and wrinkle-free no matter what your day holds.
Jetsetter Straight Fit olive green pants
For a more classic style, look to our Straight Fit Tech pants. They’ve got a more generous fit around your thighs and cut, but these aren’t your dad’s Dockers. With a curved waist construction, they mold and lift your butt to turn staid into sexy.
Rock these pants old-school with a white crew-neck tee and denim jacket or white button-down shirt.
Olive green chinos
Ok, these are a bit closer to your dad’s Dockers. But with the right shade of olive green, chinos have a timeless style that will set you miles above your khaki-clad brethren. While they may not make your ass look as good as our Jetsetters, they’ll definitely elevate your outfit when styled right. Pair them with a chambray shirt or a light grey sweater, and complete the outfit with brown leather boots. We’re not saying you’ll be the best-dressed in the office, but we’re also not saying that.
Olive green jeans (No, not like Mr. Green Jeans)
Yes, green jeans can look good on you. No, they won’t make you look like you belong on Captain Kangaroo.
The key to wearing green jeans is choosing the right color. Look for a more muted, neutral green, and avoid bright or saturated colors. How to wear them? Think of them as chinos’ cooler, more laid-back cousins. Wear them with a white shirt and boots, or throw on a chunky sweater and loafers for a coffee date.
(Note: Don’t wear olive green jeans with a green denim jacket. Only one man can pull off that look.)
Fatigues and cargo pants
Alright, let’s talk about the elephant (or maybe Sherman tank) in the room: olive green’s military heritage.
The iconic US Army OG-107 fatigue pants, worn by generations of soldiers, are the literal OG of olive green pants. Their influence on modern menswear is undeniable. Unfortunately, fatigues — and their close cousins, cargo pants — have a bit of an image problem. To quote a fellow writer, “What you should not do is wear fatigues or any similarly cargo-adjacent pants for fashion reasons!”
Now, before you say “them’s fightin’ words,” my friend does have a point. Baggy, worn-out, and faded cargos do kind of make you look like you live in your mom’s basement. And, yeah, maybe they were only $4.99 at your local army surplus store, but unless you plan to enlist, boxed up in your mom’s basement is where they should stay.
Olive green dress pants
Finally, olive green dress pants are a chic alternative to the usual charcoal or navy blue. Go for a deep tone in a soft wool fabric. Pair them with greys or blues, or mix things up by adding a subtle burgundy, camel, or even light pink shirt and neutral jacket.
Now that you know the types of olive green pants you can wear — and which ones to stay far, far away from — let’s talk about how to wear them well. We’ll start with the most important part, fit.
Fit is the most important thing
It doesn’t matter what pants you wear — if they don’t fit well, you’re going to look like crap. So let’s repeat: Fit is the most important thing.
Got that? Now here’s how you make it work.
-
Get measured: No, I don’t mean get your wife or girlfriend to hold a measuring tape around your waist. She’ll lie because she doesn’t want to hurt your feelings. Unless you left your socks on the floor again. But then you’ve got bigger problems than buying pants. Go to a proper clothing store or tailor and get proper measurements for your waist, hips, inseam, and leg openings.
-
Length matters: We mean pants length, wise guy. Make sure your pants break (fold) at the tops of your shoes. This keeps them looking tidy and gives a subtle flash of your funky socks when you walk or sit down.
-
Pick the right shape: If you’re slim, go for slim-fit pants. If you’re not slim, go for a straight or standard fit. We should also mention here that our Jetsetter pants are anti-ball-crush, so no matter what fit you choose, your boys will be comfy.
Once you get your fit figured out, here’s how to build some classic olive green pants outfits.
What to wear with your olive green pants
Like we said, one of the best things about olive green is that it goes with almost any other color. Let’s play with some ideas.
Olive green with neutrals
Neutrals are a classic match for olive green pants. Pair them with other earth tones like a cream shirt and brown leather jacket, or a heather grey sweater for a natural look. Soft blues, greys, and tans are also great choices.
Olive green with orange or purple
Orange and purple are complementary colors to olive green. For a slightly bolder style, match your pants with a burgundy or ochre sweater, or a long-sleeved T-shirt. Subtlety is key here. Go for muted, natural orange and purple tones. Avoid bright colors at all costs.
Olive green with black
Olive green and black add a touch of sophistication to your style. We suggest going with a black T-shirt (like our black Anytime Tee) or our black Legacy Jacket over a white T-shirt or sweater.
Olive green with white
Another classic matching is olive green and white. Throw on a basic white tee and sneakers for an everyday casual look. Swap the T-shirt for a white button-down and loafers to bump things up, and add a black v-neck sweater and wingtips to make it dressy.
Olive green with green
Olive green is a great foundation for other greens. Try olive green pants with a light green sweater, or play with neutrals and combine them with a light green button-down and brown cardigan or blazer. You can even match it with olive green to play with military styles.
Ideas for dressing olive green up
You can easily dress your olive green pants up. Think of it as a more interesting alternative to navy or charcoal pants. Pair our olive green Jetsetter pants or some wool dress pants with a pink dress shirt and navy blazer for a twist on a classic look. You can also try it with a burgundy roll-neck sweater and tweed blazer. Top off both looks with a brown or oxblood belt and wingtips.
Ideas for dressing olive green down
Olive green is just as versatile for more casual looks. We’ve already mentioned the classic olive green jeans and T-shirt (add your favorite white sneakers). Go for a more athletic look by pairing our olive green Jetsetters with a grey long-sleeve tee or black tank top.
Wear olive green chinos and a black or dark grey polo shirt for a slightly dressier casual look. In colder weather, swap the polo shirt for a white crew neck tee and patterned cardigan.
Olive green dos and don’ts
It’s hard to go wrong with such an easy color, but here are some dos and don’ts for wearing olive green pants.
Do…
-
Get pants that fit: If we’ve said this once, we’ll say it a thousand times — fit is everything. Get measured and get the right pants for your body type.
-
Play with colors: Olive green looks good with almost every color. Try different color combinations to find the ones that look best on you.
-
Take care of your pants: Like all pants, olive green pants look best when they’re clean and unwrinkled. Keep ‘em clean and iron ‘em before wearing them. Don’t add creases unless you’re really trying for the military look.
Don’t…
-
Wear cargo pants (or any baggy olive green pants): Yeah, we know you’ve got a couple pairs of cargo pants in your closet. They have their place. And unless you’re planning to do home renos or help your kids move to college, that place is in the closet.
-
Wear camo: Just don’t.
-
Wear bright colors: Olive green works best with other neutral colors. It will clash with bright colors. However, bright socks are always acceptable, so feel free to rock your Yoda socks.
Ready to go (olive) green?
Now that you’ve got the facts on olive green, you’re on your way to owning this classic look. Go out and try on some clothes! Start at the Jack Archer store for some great looks (and great deals!)
Until next time, fellas.
