Guide to Chinos

A versatile and stylish staple for your lower half, chinos are the perfect pants to wear with this year?s big trends.

Chinos are more than just colored jeans

In fact, chinos are not jeans at all. If you compare a pair of blue chinos with blue denim jeans, you?ll notice the difference. Both are made from cotton and are in a twill (diagonal) weave, but chino cloth is smoother and softer than denim as thinner threads are used. Chino fabric is usually also brighter than denim, although this is more reflective of current trends.

While chinos are not jeans, they are alike and are worn in a similar way. Unless they are a spectacular pair of chinos, they don?t form the centrepiece of your outfit. They are more of a filler piece, which goes with your outfit without being particularly noticeable.

How to wear 'em!

Chinos are known for being colorful, but they aren?t always. You can sometimes find them in muted colors such as stone or beige- highly recommended as basic pieces for your wardrobe. Try wearing them in place of jeans and you?ll find your outfits look that much more stylish.

How to wear chinos

There are numerous options for your top half when you don a pair of chinos. Jumpers, especially with a shirt collar sticking out, look fantastic with chinos- but the weather doesn?t always permit a jumper to be worn. On warmer days, try wearing a patterned shirt, or a V-neck cotton tee for a more casual look.

If you follow fashion trends closely, chinos are your friend. They can be matched with anything and are particularly useful for pairing with printed or patterned items, which have recently enjoyed popularity among stylish men. Quite a youthful item, you?ll rarely find chinos on someone who has passed their prime.

For an eye-catching look, obtain brightly colored chinos which match one of the colors on a patterned jumper. This works particularly well with complementary colors- a pair of blue chinos goes perfectly with a yellow patterned jumper that has hints of blue.

Chinos can also be the statement piece of your outfit. During periods where a particular color is dominating fashion, cash in on the trend by obtaining chinos in that color.

When it comes to footwear, there are many options available to a wearer of chinos. A pair of oxfords or wingtips looks great, but there are plenty of other shoe choices such as boots or boat shoes. Just don?t wear chinos with runners. Runners should never be worn unless you?re running, and it?s not like you?re going to be able to run far in a pair of constricting pants.

Fitting chinos to your body

Unlike jeans, chinos can?t be worn too baggy or tight. There is a more narrow range in which they need to fit. You want them to be snug, but not as clingy as skinny jeans.

Chinos are incredibly flattering on slim men, but they?re not out of bounds for those on the larger side. However as chinos are often low-rise, they?re not always flattering for the belly- but this can easily be concealed with a jumper or top which just covers the belt line.