When it comes to men’s pants, chinos are undoubtedly an essential style. As versatile as fashionable, these trousers are a must-have for every man. They are ideal for casual looks and can work with smart ensembles, making them a fantastic item to own. But finding the perfect pair of chinos and deciding how to style them can be challenging, especially for those who have long been dedicated to jeans. Luckily, we’re here to help. Here’s our guide to choosing the perfect chinos and wearing them with style.
What are Chinos?
Chinos refers to a type of trousers popularised by an American military origin. Soldiers wore uniforms boasting a predominant cotton composition, generally skimming the body. Chinos are thus the product of such military wear. Less formal than dress pants and more dressy than a casual jean, these pants are available in cotton and cotton-blend styles, which allows them to be dressed up or down. Additionally, the range of colors chinos come in distinguishes it as an alluring trouser choice for most gentlemen.
TOP BUYS
How to Wear Chinos
Colour is essential, but the fit is key to pulling off chinos. Our biggest tip? Try chinos on and see how they complement your build and height. Fitted chinos, which are neither too tight nor too baggy, will work remarkably well. They’ll also elongate and streamline your aesthetic and partner perfectly with a tucked-in lightweight button-down shirt for effortless styling. Nominate woven belts for an effortless finishing touch that will complement a youthful silhouette. Chinos should never be too long—hem chinos for a graduated, sleeker aesthetic that will look sharp rather than sloppy. However you approach tailoring, keep the dress code and the season in mind.
What to Wear With Chinos
Chinos are remarkably easy to style. For a more casual aesthetic, opt for chambray and linen shirts tucked into slim chinos, perfect for sunny days. Opt for blazers in contrasting colors to amp up looks for a dressier take on chinos. Also, go for personal touches to produce a more nuanced look. Pocket squares and knitted ties will also work wonders to dress them up more relaxedly.
Chino Outfits
When it comes to picking colors for chinos, do not feel limited. Staple favorites like khaki, navy, and white work incredibly well for countless color combinations. Emerald or grass greens will lend a novel influence for smart casual looks, and dusty blues and earthy browns register rugged and masculine. With any color you go for, the key is to go for classic tones of hues for consistent looks with a timeless dimension.
The most versatile chino color is undoubtedly navy, which can be worn with most colors, tends to work well for more evening functions, and is far more versatile than black.
Red Chinos
Incorporate red chinos with basic color accompaniments, like crisp whites, for a simple weekend look with a twist.
White Chinos
Clean, bright, and fresh, white chinos work incredibly well with various shades of blue and denim chambray shirts. They are perfect for sunny days that require a cool sartorial arrangement.
Khaki / Tan Chinos
While the typical white dress shirt works well with tan, try grounding your tan chinos with earthy colors like dusty browns and rusty khakis for a novel everyday look.
Pink Chinos
Don’t feel overwhelmed with pink chinos; rather, channel them in diluted pinks that look washed out. This will work well with bright whites and darker navies to balance out the brightness of pink for summer events.
Roger Grinstead is a senior apparel designer for X2U with over 25 years of expertise in the fashion industry. He has expertise in menswear and womenswear trends and product development. When Roger is not designing the latest fashion garments, he enjoys writing about men's fashion, hairstyles, and grooming.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.
Thank you for subscribing.
Something went wrong.
