The Row vs Dickies: is the pricier pant worth it?
The Dickies Original 874 Work Pant (men's) runs $30; the The Row Gala Pant is $1,190 — about 39.7× the price ($1,160 more). Here's the side-by-side, and what that gap actually buys.
| Dickies | The Row | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $1,190 |
| Material | A 65/35 polyester-cotton twill that resists wrinkles and holds a sewn-in permanent crease; it starts stiff and owners report it softens noticeably with wear. | The signature version is a stretch cady listed as 69% triacetate and 31% polyester, and the brand cuts the same shape in British wool flannel, silk-linen, and wool-cashmere cloths. |
| Fit | The original fit sits at the waist with a relaxed seat and thigh and a straight leg that tapers slightly. Owners widely report the waist runs snug with no stretch, and the common advice is to size up if between sizes. | The bias cut and slim gathered elastic waistband produce a wide, fluid leg that owners describe as unusually flattering and easy to wear for long stretches. The elasticated waist makes fit between sizes forgiving. |
| Quality | Reviewers describe the twill and stitching as very hard to wear out for the money. Recurring complaints are the shallow front pockets and occasional pilling of the fabric surface after long use. | Owner reports say the pants keep their shape through repeated wear and are not delicate. One independent close inspection of the brand's trousers still flagged a metal zipper that was not color-matched, calling it odd at this price. |
| Best for | Shoppers who want the cheapest genuinely durable everyday twill pant and don't mind a work-uniform look and a snug, non-stretch waist. | Right for someone who wants one dressed-up wide-leg trouser comfortable enough to travel and lounge in, and who accepts paying a label premium to get it. |
| Care | Machine wash and tumble dry low; the poly-cotton blend sheds wrinkles and the permanent crease keeps it looking pressed without ironing. | Owners report the cady version is low-maintenance and travel-tolerant, but dry cleaning and steaming rather than machine washing is the safe default for these cloths. |
The Dickies 874 is a $30 work-uniform pant in poly-cotton twill built for durability and low maintenance; the Row Gala is a $1,190 wide-leg trouser in stretch cady or luxury cloths built for a fluid, dressed silhouette. The gap between them is $1,160, and even owners of the Row concede the fabric and construction do not account for that number on their own.
- The case for Dickies
- The 874 wins on durability per dollar: reviewers consistently describe the twill and stitching as genuinely hard to wear out at a price that carries no detectable brand tax.
- The case for The Row
- The Gala wins on silhouette and wearability comfort: the bias cut, wide leg, and elasticated waist produce a dressed look that owners report as flattering and easy to wear for extended periods without the stiffness or waist constraints of a structured trouser.
The bottom lineIs the pricier one worth it?
Buy the Dickies 874 if the need is a hard-wearing everyday pant that will take repeated machine washing and physical use without complaint — it overdelivers at $30, and the only real concessions are shallow pockets, a snug non-stretch waist, and a utilitarian look. Step up to the Row Gala only if the specific requirement is one fluid, wide-leg dressed trouser comfortable enough to travel in and the buyer is at peace paying a documented label premium, because the $1,160 gap is not explained by fabric or construction quality alone — a portion of it is straightforwardly buying the brand name.
We may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you.