Khaki Pants for Women: How to Wear Khaki Now, and the Designer Pairs to Buy

The short answer: the best khaki pants for 2026 are straight, slightly loose and made from a sturdy cotton, worn long enough to touch the shoe. Pair them with a crisp shirt, a fine knit and a check shirt in turn, and the colour does the rest. Our pick is the Dries Van Noten Overdyed cotton pants in Khaki, a regular-fit straight leg in overdyed cotton twill, with slit pockets and a button and zip front. Browse every style in our designer pants edit and the Dries Van Noten collection.

Khaki comes from the Hindi and Urdu word for dust, and it entered fashion through military uniforms in the nineteenth century. That history is why khaki trousers look practical and calm. The modern version is less office chino, more workwear: thicker cotton, a straighter leg, an overdyed finish that gives the colour depth.

Khaki vs olive vs tan vs chino

What is overdyed cotton?

Overdyeing means dyeing a finished fabric, and sometimes the finished garment, a second time. The new colour sits over the old one, so the result is deeper and slightly uneven, with a soft, lived-in look along the seams and pockets. It also softens the cotton. On the Dries Van Noten pants it turns a plain twill into a green-khaki with real depth, the shade that sits between olive and khaki.

What colours go with khaki pants?

• White and ecru. The crispest pairing, with a white shirt and a white long sleeve tee; see long sleeve T-shirts.
• Chocolate and tan. Tonal and warm. Brown boots, a tan knit.
• Navy. Classic, a little preppy.
• Burgundy and ochre. Autumn colours that make khaki look rich, like the Jacquard cocoon top in Ocra.
• Green check. A plaid shirt in the same family, see plaid shirts for women.

How to wear khaki pants

1. With a fine knit and heeled loafers, for the office. See heeled loafers.
2. With a check shirt and square-toe boots, at the weekend. See square-toe boots.
3. With a jacquard top and flat shoes, for lunch.
4. With a long camel coat and a white tee, for travel.
5. With a lurex knit for evening, see what is lurex.

Our picks

1. Dries Van Noten Overdyed cotton pants in Khaki

Overdyed cotton twill, regular fit, straight leg, side slit pockets. The shade sits between olive and khaki.

2. Max Mara Bacca Washed Cotton Wide-Leg Trousers in Khaki

Washed cotton with a wide leg, soft and relaxed.

3. Max Mara Ordine Cotton Drill Barrel Leg Trousers in Khaki

A barrel leg in cotton drill, the newest shape of the season.

4. Maison Margiela Cotton Cargo Trousers in Olive

Olive cotton cargos, the workwear take.

5. Isabel Marant Renzae Pants in Khaki

A relaxed khaki trouser with an easy French ease.

6. La DoubleJ Palazzo Pants in Sylph Khaki

A printed palazzo in a khaki ground, for when you want pattern.

7. Bogner Elfy Virgin Wool Pleated Trousers in Olive

Pleated virgin wool in olive, the winter version.

Frequently asked questions

Are khaki pants in style in 2026?

Yes. Straight and wide cuts in sturdy cotton, often overdyed, appear across the autumn 2026 collections.

What shoes go with khaki pants?

Brown boots, heeled loafers, white sneakers and ballet flats. Brown and tan leather look best with the colour.

What is the difference between khaki and chino?

Khaki is a colour. Chino is a style of cotton twill trouser, usually made in khaki.

Is olive the same as khaki?

Olive is a darker, greener shade within the khaki family.

What top goes with khaki pants?

White shirts, fine knits, check shirts and jacquard tops all work. Keep one element crisp, the rest soft.