The Hackett Trousers Worth Buying

The Kensington is Hackett's slim leg, and it is the line most people should start with. The Stretch Cotton Chino at £140 is the daily workhorse, cut close through the thigh without strangling it, and the ribbed and textured versions at £150 give you a bit more surface interest for the same job. Spend up to £160 and the Wool Stretch Trouser dresses the whole thing up, while the Linen Chino at £160 to £190 is the one to reach for in July. The Cotton-Silk Chino at £230 is the indulgence here, softer and with more sheen than a cotton pair has any right to. If you only buy one Kensington, make it the stretch cotton. The Devon Cargo gives you the same slim leg with proper pockets.

The Sanderson is the classic-cut line, fuller through the leg than the Kensington and built around heavier, more characterful cloth. The plain Sanderson Chino starts at £140 and the stretch cotton sits at the same price, so the entry point is friendly. Move up and the fabric does the talking: Cavalry Twill and Textured Chino at £150, then the £230 trio of Cotton-Silk, Cotton-Linen and a proper Cotton-Silk Chino for warmer, dressier wear. The Sanderson Wool Trousers at £200 hold a crease beautifully, and the Tropical Wool at £250 is the smartest pair Hackett makes here, light enough to wear through a British summer under a blazer. Buy the cavalry twill first for autumn. It is the best-value cloth in the line.

This is the roomy end. The Regent line runs relaxed and easy: the Cargo Trousers at £170, the Comfort Drawcord and Drawstring Chinos around £160, and the Fine Stripe and Stripe Drawstring versions for anyone who wants pattern without going loud. The Fulham is the pleated, tapered relaxed fit, with a Pleated Chino at £150 and a cropped version at £140 that works well over loafers in summer. The Double Pleat Chino at £170 and the Linen Delave Hopsack at £230 round out the dressier pleated options. If you have lived in slim chinos for a decade and want to try the wider leg, start with the Fulham Pleated Chino. The taper keeps it from looking like a sack.

Hackett denim is the quietest part of the range and the easiest to overlook, which is a mistake. Most pairs sit at £140 to £160, so the price band is tight and the choice comes down to wash and fit. The Slim Fit Rinse and Vintage Wash at £140 are the everyday pairs, dark and clean enough to pass at dinner. The Classic Fit Lux Light and Vintage Wash at £160 give you a fuller leg in a softer hand. For something with more credibility, the Selvedge Rinse Wash at £160 is the one denim heads will clock, and the White and Ecru pairs open things up for summer. The Powerflex versions add stretch if you sit at a desk all day. Buy the slim rinse wash first. It is the most useful £140 in the line.