The $35 Dickies 874 Will Always Be the Best Deal in Pants
ShoppingThe brand's legendary work trousers are impervious to scuffs, stains, slip-ups, and, like, half a century of inflation.By Gerald OrtizFebruary 24, 2025Photos: Bowen FernieSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.The Dickies 874 isn't the only work pant up to the task. For more intel, start here.If you had to wear one pair of pants for the rest of your life, which would you choose? I know it’s a terrifying prospect—and I also know, as someone with more jeans than mustache hairs, you think you know what my answer would be. Jeans are popular for a reason; there’s a lot to love about a classic pair of dungarees. They’re durable, timeless, relatively cheap, and play nice with pretty much everything in your closet. But the operative word there, of course, is almost. Because when the time comes to gear up for a wedding, funeral, or job interview, jeans are simply too casual.So what if I told you there are capital-P Pants that do everything your trusty 5-pockets can—and a whole lot of things they can’t? If you’re positively apoplectic at the news, let me put you out of your misery: I’m talking about the Dickies 874, one of the most important pants in menswear history.Frankly, the 874 needs little introduction—if you don’t swear by a pair, you probably know, like, six guys who do. But on the off chance this is the first you’re hearing of the prototypical work pant, a little context might be helpful.Dickies874 Work Pant$30 AmazonDickies874 Work Pant$30 $21 AmazonThe 874 was introduced in 1967, when its starchy cotton-poly twill fabric and classic rise helped endear it to the blue-collar workers of the era. Eventually, it caught on with Southern California’s Latino community, who made its crisp creases and straight silhouette a signature of Cholo style, before infiltrating the area’s other distinct style tribes: punks and skaters, who valued its hardy fabric and anti-fashion credibility. The 874 is still plenty popular on the West Coast, but these days its remit extends far and wide, from Parisian designers who remix it on the runway to Philadelphia shop-owners who watch it fly off the shelves.In 2025, the 874’s basic appeal remains unchanged. It can still fulfill its original purpose as a work pant made for hard, manual labor; it looks killer beat up after taking God-knows-how-many spills on a skateboard. But, crucially, it's also just a great everyday pant—maybe even the great everyday pant—in a way your jeans can never hope to compete with.Dickies874 Work Pant$34 $31 AmazonDickies874 Work Pant$35 AmazonIf your style skews more C-suite than skate rat, the 874 can double as a pair of khakis, ready to sync up with a sweater and Chelsea boots or an Oxford shirt and loafers. (After giving my pair a good ironing, I’ve even worn them to a friend’s wedding and, sadly, another friend’s funeral.) To me, the 874 is hands-down the best-fitting pant you can buy without going custom—and with the massive range of waists and inseams available, you sort of get a taste of that experience if you squint your eyes enough.Which brings us back to our original question. One pair of pants for the rest of my life? Not so terrifying, it turns out. My jeans and I had a good run, but for $35 I’m picking the Dickies 874 every time.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The Dickies 874 isn't the only work pant up to the task. For more intel, start here.
If you had to wear one pair of pants for the rest of your life, which would you choose? I know it’s a terrifying prospect—and I also know, as someone with more jeans than mustache hairs, you think you know what my answer would be. Jeans are popular for a reason; there’s a lot to love about a classic pair of dungarees. They’re durable, timeless, relatively cheap, and play nice with pretty much everything in your closet. But the operative word there, of course, is almost. Because when the time comes to gear up for a wedding, funeral, or job interview, jeans are simply too casual.
So what if I told you there are capital-P Pants that do everything your trusty 5-pockets can—and a whole lot of things they can’t? If you’re positively apoplectic at the news, let me put you out of your misery: I’m talking about the Dickies 874, one of the most important pants in menswear history.
Frankly, the 874 needs little introduction—if you don’t swear by a pair, you probably know, like, six guys who do. But on the off chance this is the first you’re hearing of the prototypical work pant, a little context might be helpful.
The 874 was introduced in 1967, when its starchy cotton-poly twill fabric and classic rise helped endear it to the blue-collar workers of the era. Eventually, it caught on with Southern California’s Latino community, who made its crisp creases and straight silhouette a signature of Cholo style, before infiltrating the area’s other distinct style tribes: punks and skaters, who valued its hardy fabric and anti-fashion credibility. The 874 is still plenty popular on the West Coast, but these days its remit extends far and wide, from Parisian designers who remix it on the runway to Philadelphia shop-owners who watch it fly off the shelves.
In 2025, the 874’s basic appeal remains unchanged. It can still fulfill its original purpose as a work pant made for hard, manual labor; it looks killer beat up after taking God-knows-how-many spills on a skateboard. But, crucially, it's also just a great everyday pant—maybe even the great everyday pant—in a way your jeans can never hope to compete with.
If your style skews more C-suite than skate rat, the 874 can double as a pair of khakis, ready to sync up with a sweater and Chelsea boots or an Oxford shirt and loafers. (After giving my pair a good ironing, I’ve even worn them to a friend’s wedding and, sadly, another friend’s funeral.) To me, the 874 is hands-down the best-fitting pant you can buy without going custom—and with the massive range of waists and inseams available, you sort of get a taste of that experience if you squint your eyes enough.
Which brings us back to our original question. One pair of pants for the rest of my life? Not so terrifying, it turns out. My jeans and I had a good run, but for $35 I’m picking the Dickies 874 every time.
