Khaki was coined in 1848 when US military uniforms of the color were first rolled out. It eventually made its way not only into other military divisions across the globe but also into the mainstream fashion world. Khaki is popular today in referring to the pants in the color.
Like puce, tan, sand dollar, and other great neutrals, khaki works well with almost any color in the visible spectrum. However, khaki works especially well when combined with greens, blues, and whites.