Chinos: An Introduction
A good pair of chinos will replace your jeans.
Maybe not forever, but at least initially—when you find the right pair—you will give your jeans a much needed break from your rotation.
As I briefly described in a previous post, Bonobos is my personal recommendation for Chinos, based mostly on fit. They have options for many body types, and their athletic cut feels nearly made for me. My thighs are large for my size, so finding a brand that fits them has been a game-changer.
Picture from Bonobos: Stretch Washed Chinos (click photo to visit website)
In their own right, chinos are a year-round option. They require little maintenance while offering a lot of wear. Just as any jean—shy of heavy selvage denim—they are usually made of cotton, available in stretch, but with the added bonus of being available in loads more colors and slightly more formal. Not so formal you couldn’t wear them with converse and a t-shirt; on the contrary, they fit the great expanse from that point to a fine blazer and some derby dress shoes quite well. The fabric choice has to be right for a blazer or overshirt, and my recommendation would be hopsack or linen. Perhaps flannel or similar woolens can work, too.
Fabrics, while not discussed on this site yet, have been discussed on other platforms many times. Without actually seeing fabrics in real life (being the only way to properly understand the hand and dimension of a fabric) you can only have so much understanding when hearing descriptions like “sharp,” “crisp,” dry hand,” etc. This will be much more closely researched in a video when I get into that. I’m sure this topic already exists somewhere in the ether in one form or another.
Back on topic—Chinos are the easy “step two” in improving your wardrobe after shoes. Some may argue going to Jackets, but with the average man owning a nice enough coat and some decent shirts, a good base of well-fitted and hemmed chinos is more than enough to elevate your style without others being able to put their finger on precisely what changed about you.
This is important because most men are worried they will be an outcast, taunted, or even rejected for going forward with style improvements. Dipping your toe with a pair of Navy chinos is absolutely the smallest step you can take, and the one I started with. I was 20 when I began this venture, and in the military (surrounded by savages) to boot. Navy chinos with a 2” cuff were the full extent of “dressy” garments I had for the first few months. I then opted for another classic—khaki, then an olive-brown. The latter being my absolute favorite and most worn.
I quickly realized though… That these are just pants. As is everything in the “style” realm, they’re all just pieces of clothing. As long as they cover what they’re intended to, you should be able to wear anything you want.
Me: Writing this article. Khaki chinos from Bonobos!
Chinos are the first step in clothing that will take you from the guy in joggers and hoodies to wherever you ultimately find your own personal style. For me, a fine chino now the base on which my style resides. I love wearing suits, and jeans are my first choice for particularly casual errands and exploits, but as I sit and write this on a day off—in which I never left the house—I am wearing chinos.
-Mario
Please comment below your first (or next on the list to buy!) pair of Chinos. Any recommendations for brands and/or styling options to help out the community is also greatly appreciated!
