How one can Put on Chinos with Every part in Your Closet

By Megan Collins | Final Up to date: Could 30 2022
Chinos are the definitive antidote to complaining that denims are “all” it’s important to put on.
So, whenever you need getting dressed to be straightforward, attain for chinos!

They’re so straightforward to swap in as an alternative, they usually’ll put you leaps and bounds forward of your boringly backside’d brethren.
They’re simply as “impartial” as denim, and actually super-wearable.
Beneath, all the pieces you have to learn about tips on how to put on chinos:

What are chinos? Are chinos totally different than khakis?
First, let’s begin with some terminology. “Khakis” aren’t pants. Khaki is a colour.
When somebody says khakis, what they’re actually speaking about are chinos. A easy informal, cotton pant that exists within the center floor between denims and gown pants.
Consider chinos or chino pants (we’ll use them interchangeably right here) because the oxford shirt of pants—versatile sufficient to be dressed up or dressed down, and at all times in model.
For instance?
Khaki chinos are chino pants that are available a tan (khaki) colour. Burgundy chinos are chino pants that are available a burgundy colour. And so forth.
Chinos are dresser than five-pocket twill pants, which look just about precisely like denims apart from the fabric.
However! They’re not as dressy as gown pants, which normally have a tab waistband closure and are made from wool, or another fancier materials.
How chino pants ought to match
Bear in mind these wide-legged chinos that actually all of us (guys and women alike) wore rising up? Those that made us really feel just like the fourth member of Blink 182 and match like your favourite pair of JNCO denims?
Yeah, we’re not sporting these anymore.
Minimize and cloth are key to versatility in relation to chinos. Search for a chino with a medium rise, not too excessive or too low. Flat entrance is a should (aka, no pleats!!), and ensure the seat of the pants match shut however not too tight.
And about your bottom? A detailed-fitting seat is the remedy for “dad diaper butt.”
Manufacturers have been constructed to deal with this scourge on males’s model; don’t be a sufferer of it your self. Us girls need to see your cute butt as a lot as you want to take a look at ours, so a shapeless, sloppy bottom is a particular Don’t.
Ensure that the leg is tailor-made near the physique, and the size falls someplace between the highest of the shoe and the highest of the heel. Keep away from chinos which can be too washed and distressed as this makes it more durable to decorate them up.
Store one of the best chinos for guys
After all, there are such a lot of choices on the market for chinos for guys that buying can really feel overwhelming.
However don’t despair! Our crew narrowed down your choices for you. Store our #SGapproved chino pants picks, under:
J.Crew

Why they’re nice: J.Crew is inexpensive (as inexpensive as is smart…you need this stuff to final via fairly a number of spin cycles!) and high-quality. The model additionally provides a number of match choices and are available a variety of hues, from neutrals like tan and navy to extra attention-grabbing colours.
Kinds to decide on: The 484 slim-fit pant is nice for guys with a “typical” construct, whereas guys with larger legs ought to go for the 1040 athletic-fit model.
Bonobos

Why they’re nice: Stress-free sufficient for the weekend, however nonetheless applicable for a company informal gown code, Bonobos is a good choice whenever you’re in a position to spend a bit more cash.
Kinds to decide on: The chinos can be found in as much as 5 matches: Skinny, Tailor-made, Slim, Athletic, and Straight matches. Additionally they supply prolonged sizes, which is nice for a giant & tall shopper.
Carhartt WIP

Why they’re nice: We love Carhartt WIP for its function-meet-fashion vibes.
These heavy twill, straight leg pants make for a high-quality chinos for a cool-yet-casual man.
Kinds to decide on: The Sid Pant above. For a contemporary (aka slim) match, purchase your regular dimension. For a extra basic match, purchase a dimension bigger than your regular dimension.
A.P.C.

Why they’re nice: The editors over at GQ put it finest once they (additionally!) included trend trade favourite A.P.C. of their “finest chinos” roundup:
“A.P.C. will get a number of shine for its denim…nevertheless it’s 2019 now, the Golden Age of Pants, and a person can’t reside on uncooked denim alone. Because it occurs, A.P.C. makes a near-definitive model of that different most important of males’s bottoms—khaki chinos…Add to {that a} fairly cheap value—from a cost-per-wear perspective, anyway—and also you’ve acquired your self a baseline towards which all different khakis may be judged.”
Kinds to decide on: Go together with the basic chinos. They’ve acquired a straight minimize and grow to be barely fitted on the backside of the leg.
Apparently, A.P.C’s chinos are made from cotton gabardine, a waterproof cloth typically present in raincoats.
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One of the best colours for chino pants
Because of a really traumatic incident in my teenagers, I’ve a private aversion to gentle, sand-colored chinos.
Within the spring of eighth grade, I borrowed a pair of Hole chinos from my buddy Kate. I needed to put on them to commencement rehearsal on the church related to our parochial faculty. Large-leg with that ineffective hammer loop that no center schooler wants, and stone-white, these pants have been the best.
Sitting in a pew, ready for my flip to stroll as much as the altar to fake-receive an invisible diploma from my principal, I all of the sudden realized I’d gotten my interval for the primary time.
Not desirous to name consideration to the…state of affairs, I yanked my sweater down in the direction of my shoelaces. Then I walked up in entrance of my total class, and accepted that invisible piece of paper with a agency handshake and pained smile. Fortunately, a clear pair of denims sitting in my locker saved the day. Actually.
The entire expertise felt (in all probability?) loads like getting a boner throughout a spelling bee— it’s not your fault, that your physique doesn’t imply to betray you in entrance of all of your pubescent friends…and but you continue to need to go residence, hug your mother and father goodbye, change your title, and transfer out of state, by no means to return once more.
After all, males nearly by no means break a light-colored pair that manner!
So, if you happen to’re all aboard the chino practice, begin with a tried and true khaki colour.
Then, transfer onto different neutrals like olive, navy, charcoal, and even black.
From there? Don’t be afraid to experiment! Heat climate is nice for lighter shades from salmon to sea breezy blue, whereas the colder months supply up the prospect to put on darker shades like aubergine and rust.
How one can put on chinos in your wardrobe
Like denims, you possibly can gown chinos up, or gown them down. The fantastic thing about an ideal pair of chinos is that they go along with actually all the pieces.
Get preppy with a white gown shirt, navy blazer, and tie. Go for that easy Scandinavian aesthetic with a pocket tee and recent sneakers.
You’d be laborious pressed to give you an outfit that an ideal pair of chinos received’t complement. We’ll share some outfit concepts under to hopefully encourage you!
SG Says: Joggers are one other nice various to denims. There are even jogger pants made out of chino materials on the market! You’ll be able to learn extra about this athleisure development right here.
Styling ideas for tips on how to put on chinos
- Keep away from pleated khaki pants and go for a extra fitted model to keep away from trying dowdy.
- Don’t know what to put on? Attain for an oxford fabric button down and a cardigan in an attention grabbing colour or sample. If you’re sporting chinos with a tie, make sure you tuck your shirt into your pants.
- Chinos and sporty vests go collectively like peanut butter and jelly. Don’t be afraid to put on a enjoyable sample just like the one under!
- If you happen to’re going to put on a belt, make certain it goes together with your sneakers. They don’t should be the very same colour, however they need to be in the identical household (say, a maroon braided belt with brown suede chukka boots).

Outfit Concept: Khaki-colored Chinos

SG Says: Simple, peasy, proper? The enjoyable sample on the fleece retains the entire look from being too oatmeal-y.
Outfit Concept: Olive Inexperienced Chinos

SG Says: You’ll be able to swap in olive inexperienced, or its extra military-inspired cousin, military inexperienced, to any outfit that normally showcases denim.
The muted tone of olive inexperienced chinos makes them the best substitution for denims and even your tan-colored chinos.
Why? As a result of you possibly can model them as you’ll any impartial wardrobe staple. Need to pump up this colour much more? Swap a swatch of olive inexperienced for an equally easy-to-wear camo print.
There’s one thing so manly but dapper about olive inexperienced…particularly whenever you see this colour paired with cozy fundamentals in cooler climate.
Outfit concept: Vibrant-colored chinos


You’ll be able to select a bright-colored pair of chinos anytime. We particularly like them for guys in the course of the winter months when so many put on darkish colours on a regular basis.
Follow wealthy, jewel tones (i.e., save the pastels for summer time), and pair your pants with lengthy sleeve henleys and durable outerwear. Weave in neutrals like gray, black, and navy to maintain issues from trying loopy.
- When going for a bold-colored chino, make your pants the focus of the outfit by pairing them with impartial items or tying the colour in small particulars all through the look.
- Nervous about trying such as you’ve acquired the leap on spring or summer time? Maintain your winter hues to jewel and earth tones: turquoise, eggplant, forest inexperienced, brown, gray, burgundy..
- Until you’re making some extent to colour block or go all monochrome, it’s best to pair a vibrant colour with basic wardrobe staples like stable henleys or sweaters.
- Add a bit extra visible curiosity to this look by conserving your jacket unbuttoned and henley peeking via.
- Need to make this look work within the workplace? Swap the henley for a button down and the sneakers for brogues. Then, add a knit tie and mesh metallic watch.
How one can put on your chinos cuffed or rolled

There are many methods to indicate off your personal distinctive sense of non-public model in relation to your outfit. These little tweaks that set you aside and make you stand out (in a great way!) out of your fellow college students or office friends.
1. Fold vertically, then horizontally.
No must peg your pants, however if you happen to don’t tighten the cuff a bit, you’ll by no means get the rolls to remain. Take the material on the inside ankle between two fingers and fold over itself, about an inch to 2 inches, relying on how huge the pants are.
2. Roll a couple of times, however no more than thrice.
We’re going for rolled pants, not capris. This isn’t Europe.
3. Tough it up.
The look ought to be slightly tough, as if you happen to rapidly rolled up your pant legs earlier than disembarking the schooner you sailed in to your personal island. Casually elegant, you dig? Sure, it’s important to spend slightly time perfecting the “I didn’t spend any time on this” look. However it should get simpler.
3. Put on with an informal shoe.
This recommendation really stands whether or not you’re rolling your pants or not. Chinos are to not be worn with an uber-dressy shoe. Personally, we like a pleasant low-top Chuck for this look, although chukka boots or a ship shoe would look good, too, relying on the season.
When to roll your chinos
Positive, it’s simpler to justify flashing some pores and skin within the hotter months, however don’t be afraid to roll your chinos within the winter as effectively. Simply add a tall sock as a substitute of a no-show one. Similar to it’s enjoyable to see a glimpse of a colourful sock when a person crosses his legs in a swimsuit, seeing a few of your sock whenever you roll your chinos is an efficient look, not a pretend pas.
However bear in mind, guys. (1) you’re going for straightforward breezy, not navy precision in your cuff. And (2) don’t cuff them too excessive: Us girls need to see ankle, not calf.
How one can put on khaki shorts

Chino shorts are an ideal choice for heat climate. Head to this 5 Days, 5 Methods characteristic for trendy outfit concepts!

Greatest chinos for various physique sorts
In the end, one of the best chinos on your physique kind are those that you just strive on and make you really feel like one million bucks.
That may imply slightly time spent buying, however we’ve (hopefully!) made issues simpler with our buying picks on this article.
How one can put on chinos with the proper sneakers

The picture above from Easy Gent does an ideal job of displaying you the number of choices you’ve gotten in relation to sneakers to put on with chinos.
With a extra dressed-down look, it is smart to go along with a sneaker – personally, I’m a sucker for a very vibrant, colourful low-top with an upturned cuff (like this) which provides a very trendy vibe, however you could possibly additionally go along with one thing slightly extra on-the-nose, like a lace-up canvas sneaker or a ship shoe.
If you wish to gown up your chinos, a idler or desert boot will do the trick.
Store #SGapproved sneakers to put on with chinos:
Are you caught up on the most recent wardrobe necessities? See tips on how to model your wool gown pants, navy grenadine tie, navy blazer and OCBD shirt.
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Able to replace your wardrobe? Crew SG may also help!
So, if you happen to’re able to spend money on your private model however dread the considered buying…let Crew SG create a personalised model plan for you!
If you happen to’re prepared for a method improve that’ll severely enhance your closet and your confidence, give us a shout.