Old Navy’s Hidden Gem: Khaki Block Herringbone Trousers

 

I’ve really been digging these khaki and black block herringbone trousers I picked up from Old Navy for about forty dollars CAD. I I love old navy's Tall sizes, the 36 and 38 inseams are great for a seated person like myself, so I'm not rolling around in my wheelchair looking like I'm expecting a flood.

They’re thick, durable, and surprisingly warm — the kind of pants that make you feel like you’ve got real fabric on your legs again. I’m always a little mesmerized by the pattern: from a distance, they just read as an off-brown, but up close, the texture comes alive. The alternating khaki and black blocks — roughly one by one-and-a-half centimetres each — create a subtle geometric rhythm that plays beautifully with light.

What’s especially interesting here is the pattern itself. Most people know herringbone — that classic zigzag arrangement of diagonal twill lines found in tweed jackets or cavalry twill trousers. But this is a block herringbone, a larger and more deliberate variation that breaks the traditional chevron into measured rectangular panels. Instead of a continuous fine weave, the direction of the twill alternates in distinct blocks, producing a pattern that’s both structured and dynamic. It feels part herringbone, part check — graphic but still grounded in tradition.

The fabric seems to be a sturdy twill, soft to the touch yet reassuringly substantial. Twill’s diagonal rib gives it natural drape and wrinkle resistance — a quality that’s been prized in everything from denim to military uniforms. Here, it gives these trousers a refined but hard-wearing quality: they feel as if they could take real use while still looking smart.

I’ve been pairing them most often with a golden-brown corduroy sport coat. The combination of textures — the cord’s vertical ribs meeting the herringbone’s diagonal movement — creates a quietly rich effect, earthy and autumnal without being rustic. A simple chambray shirt or a soft merino knit rounds out the look nicely. When I want to dress it up a touch, I swap the corduroy for navy flannel, or go casual with a shawl-collar cardigan.

From Old Navy, of all places, these trousers were a small revelation. I’m always hunting for classic menswear at reasonable price points, and these have that rare mix of comfort, warmth, and visual depth. They’re a reminder that texture — more than colour alone — is what gives clothing its character.

Texture is what makes menswear compelling. It’s what separates a flat, lifeless outfit from one that feels layered and tactile, even when the palette stays restrained. These block herringbone trousers have that in spades — proof that you don’t need to spend hundreds to find garments with soul. Sometimes, even at a chain store, the right fabric just finds you.

Because style, at its best, isn’t about price — it’s about perception. It’s about the quiet pleasure of good texture, honest cloth, and the feeling that what you’re wearing could have come from anywhere, yet somehow feels entirely your own.