RC Approved: FW23 Pants
Veilance Voronoi Pants
Never stagnating and continuously evolving are crucial to the longevity of a brand. While not all changes in Veilance’s design philosophy have been a hit, the changes the design team made to the Voronoi Pant to bring their signature pant model back into circulation after a brief hiatus with modern sensibilities are unquestionably a hit. Gone are the days when the Align MX were the widest pants offering Veilance made and hello to the new status quo where Corbel and Spere Pants push consumers to explore outside of their skinny jeans norm. Where the Voronois were once Veilance’s answer to a classic five pocket slim style pant done up in a technical fabric, the new iterations are cut more relaxed but not so much as to scare off longtime Veilance buyers accustomed to slimmer fits. While this review is belated, I’ve been using my Voronois in both Black and Forage as my go-to 4 season office pants that are readily dressed up for business casual wear. The Fortius 2.0 softshell material package stands as a stark upgrade over the nylon/cotton blends used in prior FW Voronois and doesn’t drape unseemly like the Terratex used in SS variants. If you needed any more convincing, these joints are nearly $100 cheaper than the prior versions. - Cole
Haven Opus Pants
The Haven Opus Pants are a contemporary work pant that are sophisticated enough for fashionistas and tough enough for projects around the house. They’re made of a surprisingly soft and luxurious Egyptian cotton twill. The fit is relaxed with a slight taper. A gusseted crotch and two darts above the knee offer range of motion that compensates for the fabric’s lacking stretch. The Opus’ features are just right: snap waist band adjustments (they wouldn’t fit me without them), a concealed zipper pocket behind the right hand pocket (reminds me of the Veilance Arris shell) and a cheeky but useful phone pocket on the right leg. I’ve just got some minor gripes. The hand pockets are set a little too far forward, which makes it awkward to stick my hands in. The concealed pocket doesn’t quite work, it’s too small, placed right above the hand pocket and the sharpness of the zipper deters me from playing around with it. That said, the Opus Pants do everything they’re supposed to do and the price is right. My search for an every day cotton pant is officially over. - Louis
Haven Loro Piana Shop Pants
A perennial Haven style, the Shop Pants return this season in the coveted Loro Piana Storm System fabric. These trousers offer a blend of heritage luxury and subtle technical charm. A blend of fleecy charcoal and ash wool sit atop a water-resistant and windproof membrane. Unlike its Goretex counterparts, the fabric is soft, quiet and drapes delicately. Haven injects utilitarian flair with a hidden zippered hip pocket and waist snaps that remove the need for a belt.
Two front pleats help tame the generous volume while a crotch gusset lends extended comfort. New for FW23, the Shop pants sports a slightly wider hem and back leg construction from a single continuous piece of fabric. As the first pant I’ve purchased in nearly 2 years, the Loro Piana Shop pants pairs easily with my favorite brands for all occasions: Acronym, Visvim or The Row. - John
Acronym P38-E
Acronym have all kinds of pant offerings (they’re up to 54 styles now) but are mostly known for their aggressive, maximalist designs. The P38 live up to that reputation and are one of Acronym’s most radical pants to date. They polarized the community when they first released in SS21, some loved its presence and functionality and the reactionary haters couldn’t get over the “d*ck zip.” I bought a pair when they first dropped but had to sell them because they fit too large, they’re overpants and sized accordingly. This season they released an updated version in my size for the first time, so I snatched a pair in the black/olive colorway before they sold out in about three minutes.
The P38 look like flight pants given the full Acronym treatment. Bold looks and features galore. Storage system with different sized, shaped and thoughtfully placed pockets. Customizable silhouette via pockets opened/closed, hem zips and a rear “vent” that effectively does nothing other than change the pants’ shape. Sometimes Acronym applies the wrong fabric to their silhouettes or uses the wrong hardware. Not in this case. E stands for encapsulated nylon, it’s not my favorite Acronym fabric but perfectly suits the P38. It’s heavy enough to handle the hardware and light enough for comfort and mobility. Price is absurd, but it’s Acronym. - Louis
Good luck copping
Haven Rig Pants
It was only a matter of time before the team at Haven set their sights on revolutionizing everyone’s favourite #stolenvalor double knee pants. Bringing their trademark Canadian technical sensibilities and a host of upgrades to the table, cop these and save yourself from the embarrassment of lowballing dudes flipping vintage Carhartts at a premium on Grailed. The stealthy phone pocket that’s seamlessly integrated into the double knee panelling is my favorite implementation of the thigh phone pocket to date. Emerized cotton twill is warmer than the thickness of the material would suggest, plus way less abrasive on your date’s thighs than heavyweight duck canvas. Charcoal is my personal favorite of the colorways offered but black and olive are infallible choices as well. I’m never going to look like the big tough guy who just left the worksite but in these pants, maybe that’s a good thing. - Cole