his style 1

This week at work, I did a little research on cargo pants. The style has a seriously unfashionable rep, but it's gotten a facelift in the last few years that's swiftly leaving the boy band associations in the dust. (I can hear JT now...) The WSJ calls cargoes "one of the most stylish and versatile go-to pieces in a man's wardrobe." Intrigued? Me too. The new designs are slimmer and more appropriate for refined occasions—less wood chopping, more bar hopping. The pockets are flatter, the fabric is softer, and the attitude is modernized. Bastian suggests thinking of them as the midpoint between jeans and chinos: more polished than everyday denim, less pedestrian than plain twill trousers. The pants walked the fall runways (love this), so you're safe to wear them at least through 2014—and some say they'll never go away. I love that they offer an authentic utilitarian personality in an edgier, more mature form. LLBean Boyfriend + dapper city slicker? Sure, I'll buy some of that. If your own piece of burnin' Bean love isn't materializing as quickly as you'd hoped, read this. Carla Ciccone can relate. And she manages to put a positive spin on things. Have a great weekend!

SHOP CARGO PANTS: J Brand. Mr Porter. JCREW. h&m. Ralph Lauren. Revolve.

images: one. two. three. four.