For a long time, I鈥檝e wanted to incorporate overalls into a regular part of my wardrobe and workwear routine. I used to gaze at overall wearers with longing. I was envious of their many pockets and carefree attitude, which I believed came from the knowledge that their pants would never fall down. But I was held back from joining their elite ranks by听my fear of听not pulling off the look and instead looking like a giant infant.听My reluctance toward overalls also comes from a negative past experience: the strap on a pair of shorteralls came loose on a bike ride last summer, and I swerved and almost crashed as I tried to reattach it.听And听as a person with a body type that听听would classify as a pear,听overalls seemed like an unflattering choice for my proportions.
But recently, the perfect storm of targeted Instagram ads and encouragement from my coworkers finally changed my mind. I decided to give them a shot. With my experience and knowledge of overalls admittedly limited, I decided to test four pairs that are听markedly different in听terms of material, shape, and intended purpose. Then听I spent two months hiking,听organizing gear at 黑料吃瓜网 (including hauling and unboxing it), and sitting at my computer in them. Throughout the process, I paid special attention to each pair鈥檚听adjustability, comfort,听utility, and, of course, how cool they looked.
The more I wore overalls, the more I felt like the best version of myself. I was productive: my keys, snacks, and tools were in the easy-to-access pouch of my bib. I was secure: I knew my pants would stay put without a belt,听regardless of the activity. I was carefree and prepared for wherever the day took me, because this is a garment with range.
On this听sartorial听journey, I learned that not all overalls are created equal, and certain pairs are better suited for particular activities. Here鈥檚 how each one fared.
Best For: All-Day Comfort
Patagonia All Seasons Hemp Canvas听($99)
The 听overalls became听my听go-to for workdays,听and because the听pant legs fit听so comfortably, I elected to wear them on a 19-hour road trip. Their softness comes from the hemp material,听which provides听a fair amount of give without sacrificing toughness. I don鈥檛 have a garden, but there are slits at the knees to insert padding, a feature which proved useful on听the days I spent听kneeling and bending frequently to听organize听products听for photo shoots at听黑料吃瓜网 headquarters.听And I听dug the deep chest and leg pockets for storing essentials.听The All Seasons also held up听well on a three-hour hike,听moving听with me听even as the switchbacks got steeper. But this trek revealed the听pair鈥檚 weak听spot: the suspenders鈥 adjustability. Because they are fashioned with听buttons, not sliding听clips, there are only two possible lengths, which听made it hard for me to get a close fit up top. The result was that the bib was often slack against my chest.
Best For: Warm-Weather Endeavors
Toad&Co Touchstone ($125)
When I wear 听in public, I鈥檓 guaranteed to get a compliment on either the green color or how well they fit me. I鈥檓 also more likely to get carded听because, as one waitress put it, I 鈥渓ook like a little girl.鈥 Although her comment confirmed my worst fears about overalls in general, I still wear these regularly. I love their laid-back look, which makes them easy to dress听down.听The Touchstone isn鈥檛听my pick for a day of vigorous activity, however, since the four shallow pockets aren鈥檛 ideal for stashing stuff, and also because the fabric is fairly thin. (That听latter detail has made them a staple as the temperature heats up, though; the breathable听cotton-Tencel blend is ideal for summertime.) These overalls听also get high marks for adjustability. They听were the only pair I tested with an integrated belt strap at the waist, making it possible to achieve a snug fit. That said,听it can be a hassle to take them听off, because the straps don鈥檛 unhook.
Best For: Apocalypse-Ready Durability
Dickies Blue White Hickory Stripe听($46)
If civilization hasn鈥檛 collapsed and overalls are still in vogue in 2060, I鈥檒l bequeath 听to my grandchildren. I know they鈥檒l last until then because they鈥檙e听held together with double-needle stitching听and constructed听with a hardy canvas, which gets more supple to the touch with each wash. On one occasion, I wore these overalls for a total of 13 hours,听first on a hike in the desert, then to a restaurant, and then for hours of strenuous karaoke. The Dickies weren鈥檛 particularly breathable in any of those scenarios, but they provided an ample range of motion when听dashing up inclines and busting out complicated dance moves. Luckily, the suspenders have simple loops, so they鈥檙e easy to take on and off. These overalls offer the least amount of features of the four I tested,听but they鈥檙e听one of my favorites, thanks to听the style. I came to love their comfortable听shapelessness and the feeling that I was wearing a very stylish bag. Their pinstripe pattern and flare-cut legs also made听me feel like an old-timey train conductor who moonlights as an Urban Outfitters employee鈥攁 vibe听I鈥檓 surprisingly OK听with.
Best For: Plush Versatility
Duluth Trading Co. Hardchore Tech Slim Leg ($75)
听are听made from a听nylon-knit fabric, so they听feel听like workout wear. Super stretchy material at the knees and behind the thighs adds听to听the athleisure effect. But these are more dynamic than run-of-the-mill gym clothes. Whereas I typically avoid wearing joggers to work, I was more than comfortable sporting the Hardchore听at the office. That鈥檚 because they鈥檙e understated enough to work听in both casual and business听environments.听Whatever the milieu, I appreciated the chest pockets, which secured my essentials. With听zippers听at the waist, and elastic suspender straps,听I was听able to adjust and remove these bibs听with ease鈥攏o elaborate shimmying required.听But the waist fasteners听had a tendency to come undone听after a while, and I often had to readjust them on the go.