Dickies 874: The $25 Pants That Run Streetwear in 2026

The Best Pants in Streetwear Cost Less Than Your Lunch

There's a $25 work pant that has been in continuous production since 1922. It wasn't designed for fashion. It was designed for electricians, mechanics, and warehouse workers who needed pants that could survive a 12-hour shift without falling apart.

And somehow, in 2026, the Dickies 874 is the most important pant in streetwear.

Not the most hyped. Not the most Instagrammed. The most important. Because while designer brands charge $400 for workwear-inspired trousers, the 874 sits there on the shelf at your local Walmart, doing the exact same thing for a fraction of the price. It's the great equalizer of fashion — proof that style has nothing to do with your bank account.

A History That Actually Matters

From Work Sites to West Coast Streets

The 874's streetwear origin story starts in Southern California. Chicano communities in LA adopted Dickies as part of a distinct aesthetic in the 1960s and 70s — creased, pressed, and paired with crisp white tees and Cortez sneakers. This wasn't fashion — it was identity.

By the 1990s, the 874 had been absorbed into skate culture. Every pro skater in California was wearing them because they were cheap, durable, and moved well on a board. When skate culture crossed over into mainstream streetwear in the late 90s and 2000s, the 874 came with it.

The Japanese streetwear scene picked them up next. Brands like WTAPS, Neighborhood, and WACKO MARIA incorporated Dickies-style work pants into their collections, but the originals maintained their credibility. Harajuku kids were wearing actual 874s alongside $500 Japanese denim — and the Dickies held their own.

The 2020s Revival

The workwear renaissance of the mid-2020s put the 874 back in the spotlight. As quiet luxury faded and people started dressing with more personality, the 874 emerged as the anti-trend trend. It's not trying to be anything. It just is.

Understanding the Fits

This is where most people mess up. Dickies offers the 874 in multiple fits, and the difference matters.

874 Original Fit

The classic. Wide through the thigh, straight through the leg. This is the fit that built the reputation. It sits at the natural waist and has a generous cut that works beautifully with chunky sneakers and boots.

Best for: Traditional streetwear looks, layering over boots, anyone who wants that authentic workwear silhouette.

Sizing note: These run large. If you're a 32 waist in most pants, try a 30 in the Original Fit. The waist has almost no stretch, so get the tape measure out.

Get the Dickies 874 Original Fit on Amazon

874 Flex

Same silhouette as the Original, but with added stretch fabric. If you skate, bike, or generally move a lot, these are the move. The flex doesn't change the look, but it makes them significantly more comfortable for all-day wear.

Best for: Active lifestyles, skating, anyone who found the Original too stiff.

Get the Dickies 874 Flex on Amazon

874 Cropped

Dickies eventually caught on to what streetwear kids had been doing for years — hemming their 874s to show ankle. The cropped version sits above the ankle and works perfectly with low-top sneakers.

Best for: Spring and summer fits, low-top sneaker pairings, cleaner silhouettes.

Slim Fit vs. Original: The Debate

Dickies also makes a slim-fit work pant (the 873). Some people swear by it. Personally? The 873 misses the point. The 874's charm is its generous, slightly oversized silhouette. When you slim it down, you lose the character. You end up with a pant that's competing with chinos instead of standing on its own.

That said, if you have a slimmer build and the 874 looks like you're swimming in fabric, the 873 might work. No judgment. But try the Original first.

How to Style the 874 in 2026

The Classic: White Tee + 874 + Clean Sneakers

You could stop reading here. This combination has been working since the 1970s and it will work until the sun explodes.

• Top: Heavyweight white tee (check our graphic tees at the shop for something with more personality)
• Pants: Dickies 874 in black or dark navy
• Shoes: Nike Air Force 1 Low, Adidas Samba, or any clean white sneaker
• Total cost: Under $80

This fit works because it's proportionally balanced. The slightly wide leg of the 874 creates a clean line that stacks naturally over most sneakers. The oversized tee mirrors the relaxed bottom half. Everything flows.

The Tokyo Layer

Japanese streetwear has always understood the 874 better than anyone. Here's how to do it.

• Base: Long-sleeve striped tee or mock neck
• Mid: Oversized work jacket or chore coat
• Pants: Dickies 874 in olive or khaki, cuffed once
• Shoes: New Balance 990v6 or ASICS Gel-Kayano 14
• Accessories: Canvas tote, simple watch

The key to this look is the cuff. Rolling the 874 once or twice creates a clean break that shows off your footwear and gives the whole fit a more intentional feel. Don't fold more than twice — you're not at the beach.

The Skate Fit

• Top: Graphic tee from a brand you actually care about
• Over: Flannel or zip-up hoodie, unbuttoned/unzipped
• Pants: Dickies 874 Original in any color
• Shoes: Nike SB Dunk Low, Vans Old Skool, or New Balance Numeric
• Hat: Five-panel or worn-in baseball cap

This is the fit that never goes out of style because it was never in style — it just exists. Skaters have been wearing this since the 90s and it still looks right.

The Elevated Workwear Look

This is where the 874 surprises people. You can dress it up more than you'd think.

• Top: Button-down Oxford, tucked in
• Over: Unstructured blazer or work jacket
• Pants: Dickies 874 in charcoal, pressed with a crease
• Shoes: Leather loafers or Derby shoes
• Belt: Simple leather belt

The crease is what makes this work. A pressed 874 reads completely differently from a rumpled one. With a blazer and leather shoes, it becomes a genuine outfit for dinners, events, or any situation where jeans feel too casual but dress pants feel too corporate.

Color Guide

The Essentials (Buy These First)

• Black: The most versatile. Works with literally everything. Start here.
• Dark Navy: Slightly softer than black, pairs better with earth tones.
• Khaki: The classic Dickies color. More casual, more workwear-coded.

The Second Tier

• Olive: Underrated. Works beautifully in earth-toned fits and layered looks.
• Charcoal: The elevated choice. Reads more formal than black, somehow.
• Brown: Perfect for fall. Pairs with cream, white, and forest green.

Skip These

• White: They'll be destroyed in a week. Work pants should work.
• Bright colors: Dickies occasionally releases seasonal colors. They're mid. The 874 is about neutral versatility.

874 vs. The Competition

Dickies 874 vs. Carhartt WIP Simple Pant ($120)

The Carhartt WIP Simple Pant is a good pant. It's also five times the price of an 874 for essentially the same silhouette in a slightly nicer fabric. The WIP branding carries more fashion credibility in certain circles, but the 874 carries more cultural credibility everywhere else.

Verdict: Save the $95 difference and spend it on a better jacket.

Dickies 874 vs. Stan Ray OG Painter Pant ($85)

Stan Ray makes excellent workwear, and the OG Painter has a similar vibe to the 874 with the added detail of a painter's loop. It's a good alternative if you want something slightly different, but it's not $60 better.

Verdict: The Stan Ray wins on details, the 874 wins on value.

Dickies 874 vs. Nike Tech Pants ($130)

Completely different vibes, but they occupy the same "daily pant" slot in a wardrobe. Tech Fleece is comfortable but trendy. The 874 is timeless. In five years, the Tech Fleece will look dated. The 874 will look exactly the same as it does now, which is exactly the same as it did in 1970.

Verdict: 874 for longevity, Tech Fleece for lounging.

Care and Maintenance

Breaking Them In

New 874s are stiff. Almost unwearably stiff. This is normal. They need about 3-5 washes to soften up and develop that lived-in drape that makes them look good.

Pro tip: Wash them twice before your first wear. Cold water, tumble dry on medium. This pre-shrinks them and starts the softening process.

Keeping the Crease

If you like the pressed look, iron them after every wash with a sharp crease down the front of each leg. Some people use starch. That's commitment, but it works.

Hemming

Unless you're over 6'2", you'll probably need to hem your 874s. The standard inseam is 32 inches, which stacks heavily on most people. Options:

1. Tailor: $10-15 for a clean hem. Worth it.
2. DIY cuff: Roll once or twice. Free and adjustable.
3. Let them stack: Some people like the pooling effect at the ankle. It's a valid choice if the stacks are controlled.

Building a Wardrobe Around the 874

The 874 should be the foundation of your pant rotation. Here's a minimal wardrobe that covers every situation:

1. Black 874 — your daily driver
2. Khaki 874 — for warmer weather and casual fits
3. Olive or charcoal 874 — your third option for variety

Three pairs of 874s costs about $75 total. That's less than one pair of most "streetwear" pants. And they'll outlast everything in your closet.

Pair them with graphic tees from our collection, build complete fits for under $200, and stop overthinking your pants. The 874 already figured it out a hundred years ago.

The Bottom Line

The Dickies 874 is proof that the best things in streetwear aren't the most expensive. They're the most honest. A $25 work pant that looks good on everyone, works in every context, and has a century of cultural credibility behind it.

You don't need to spend $200 on pants. You need to spend $25 on the right ones.

Get the Dickies 874 on Amazon and stop looking.