How do you combine ribbed trousers as a man? 8 stylish combinations

Yes, ribbed trousers are very easy to combine as a man. The safest combination is brown, beige, dark blue or green ribbed trousers with a calm shirt, knitwear or jacket. The structure of corduroy immediately gives even a simple outfit more character, without making you feel overdressed.

The most important rule is simple: let the ribbed pants be one of the textures in your outfit, not all textures at the same time. A coarse rib with a heavy tweed jacket, cable sweater and suede shoes can quickly become too much. Rather, combine it with one or two calm pieces of clothing.

Also view our current collection second-hand and vintage ribbed trousers for men.

What exactly are corduroy pants?

Corduroy trousers are trousers made of corduroy: a fabric with vertical ribs. In the Netherlands the terms are ribbed trousers, corduroy pants and sometimes corduroy pants are used interchangeably. The rib can be fine and subtle, but also wide and coarse.

That rib structure is exactly why the pants look more interesting than smooth chinos or trousers. At the same time, it remains much neater than worn-out jeans. This means that good ribbed trousers are somewhere between casual and smart casual.

If you want to build a broader base first, check out our guide to the basic wardrobe for men.

Which color corduroy pants are easiest to combine?

For a first ribbed trousers brown, beige, dark blue, olive green and gray the easiest colors. They match well with autumn and winter colours, but can also be worn in spring with a light shirt.

• Brown: strong with cream, light blue, navy, green and tweed.
• Beige: easy with dark blue, burgundy, green and white.
• Dark blue: almost as versatile as a pair of smart jeans, but with more structure.
• Green: beautiful with brown, cream, denim blue and gray.
• Gray: quiet and slightly neater; goes well with navy, black, burgundy and white.

1. Ribbed trousers with shirt: the easiest combination

Ribbed trousers with a shirt is almost always good. A white, light blue or Oxford shirt makes the corduroy pants look neater; a checked or vintage shirt makes the combination looser and more characterful.

With a coarse rib we would usually opt for a quieter shirt. With a fine rib it is easier to add a print or clear check.

A button-down collar works particularly well here. Also read: Oxford shirt and button-down combination.

2. Quarter-zip rib pants: strong for fall and winter

This is a combination that fits together very naturally. One quarter zip gives a neat, sporty top and the ribbed pants add structure.

Examples that almost always work:

• brown ribbed trousers + navy quarter-zip;
• beige ribbed trousers + dark green quarter-zip;
• dark blue ribbed trousers + gray or burgundy quarter-zip.

Do you want to know what you are wearing underneath? Check out our guide quarter-zip men's combination.

3. Ribbed trousers with jacket: yes, that is very possible

Ribbed trousers underneath one jacket works great, especially if you don't want a full trouser-jacket combination. The outfit remains neat, but feels less formal.

A wool jacket, softly constructed jacket or Harris Tweed makes sense here. Pay attention to the amount of structure. With very coarse ribbed trousers and a busy tweed pattern, the combination can become heavy. Then keep your shirt and shoes quiet.

Brown ribbed trousers with a navy jacket are a safe classic. Dark blue corduroy trousers with brown or gray tweed also work well.

4. Ribbed trousers with waistcoat: classic without a suit

Ribbed trousers and waistcoat go well together if you like classic men's style. It looks dressed up, but less formal than a full three-piece suit.

For example, choose a plain shirt, brown or green ribbed trousers and a quiet woolen waistcoat. If both waistcoat and trousers have a lot of pattern, things quickly become restless.

More inspiration: combine men's vests.

5. Ribbed pants with leather jacket: the cooler combination

If you want to make corduroy look less classic, combine the pants with a leather or suede jacket. A brown, black or dark green leather jacket works especially well.

Not much needs to be done underneath: a plain T-shirt, polo or thin sweater is often enough. The combination of leather and rib naturally provides texture.

See also what do you wear under a leather jacket?.

6. Ribbed trousers with polo: smart but relaxed

A polo immediately makes ribbed trousers a little sportier. In spring you can combine finer ribbed trousers with a cotton polo; in the fall, a polo sweater or knitted polo works well.

A cream polo with brown ribbed trousers or a dark green polo with beige ribbed trousers are combinations that require little effort but still look neat.

7. Ribbed Pants with T-shirt or Sweater: Keep it simple

Ribbed trousers do not always have to be styled classically. With a good plain T-shirt and sneakers it becomes very casual. With a calm sweater you get an easy weekend outfit.

Because corduroy already has something visually, the top doesn't have to be complicated. Especially with a coarse rib, simplicity often works better.

8. Ribbed trousers with tweed: lots of character, but dose it

Rib and tweed almost naturally belong together in terms of atmosphere. Yet this is also the combination where it is easiest to exaggerate.

Ribbed trousers with a Harris Tweed jacket can be fantastic, but it is best to choose a simple shirt and simple shoes. Let the materials do the work.

If you like that classic British/preppy vibe, read our guide to it too preppy men's style.

Which shoes do you wear with corduroy pants?

The shoe largely determines how formal the corduroy pants look.

• Loafers: ideal for smart casual and preppy.
• Derby's or brogues: classic, especially strong with jacket or waistcoat.
• Suede shoes: their texture fits nicely with corduroy.
• Boots: good with coarser rib and autumn/winter looks.
• Quiet sneakers: make the ribbed trousers more modern and informal.

Also view our current selection second-hand men's shoes.

How should ribbed trousers fit?

The fit is more important than whether the rib is fine or coarse. Ribbed trousers may fit comfortably, but should not bunch up everywhere.

Pay particular attention to:

• the waist must remain in place without a belt as an emergency solution;
• the cross should not pull or hang extremely low;
• the pipe must match the model: straight, tapered or wider;
• the length should match the shoes you usually wear.

Slightly roomier classic ribbed trousers can work very well with a jacket or knitwear. So you don't necessarily have to wear corduroy tightly.

Can ribbed trousers also look neat?

Yes. A fine rib in dark blue, gray or dark brown can look surprisingly neat. Combine it with a shirt, jacket and leather shoes and you are clearly on the smart side of smart casual.

For formal occasions where a suit is really expected, a trousers more logical. But for work, dinner, drinks or a smart daily outfit, ribbed trousers are often more interesting.

What should you not do?

There are no hard rules, but a few combinations are more likely to go wrong:

• too many coarse textures at once;
• ribbed trousers that are too long and heavy on the shoes;
• very sporty running shoes under classic corduroy pants;
• too many different shades of brown without contrast;
• a busy shirt, busy jacket and striking corduroy trousers in one outfit.

The best solution is usually not to add more, but to make one element calmer.

What should you look for with second-hand ribbed trousers?

With second-hand corduroy, the areas with friction are especially important. Check the seat, knees, inner thighs and bottom of the legs.

Check whether the rib structure is still even. Some signs of wear can be nice for vintage, but bald or thin spots are something else.

Also check the zipper, buttons, pockets and waistband. You can find more general purchasing tips in recognize quality in second-hand men's clothing.

Rib pants or jeans?

Jeans are often easier and sportier. Ribbed trousers provide more structure and look dressed up faster. So they complement each other well.

If you mainly have denim in your closet, brown or dark green ribbed trousers are often an easy first step towards a more classic wardrobe. You may also want to read our guide about it second hand jeans for men.

Second-hand ribbed trousers at EcoGents

At EcoGents, corduroy trousers now have their own collection. View the current selection second-hand and vintage ribbed trousers for men. You will also find them within our broader collection trousers and jeans.

Because we work with second-hand clothing, color, size, brand and rib structure constantly change. One week there are mainly brown and navy models, the next time green, beige or a more striking color.

There is always much more in our store in Tilburg than online. You can immediately combine ribbed trousers with that shirts, quarter zips, jackets and waistcoats in the same size section.

Short answer: start with brown, beige, navy or green ribbed trousers and combine them with one calm top layer. A shirt, quarter-zip or jacket almost always works. The structure of the ribbed trousers automatically gives the outfit character.