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The 10 Best Chinos for Men in 2022
Athleisure, including clothing items such as jogger pants and hoodies, has enjoyed a very, very long 15 minutes of fame thanks to the global pandemic. However, as the weather warms up and people get out more and more (both literally and figuratively), there’s more of a collective desire to actually get dressed.
Enter timeless and universally wearable chinos for men. Chinos are often confused for khakis, but they’re distinctly different. More formal than khakis, chinos are generally more fitted, have slim or slightly tapered straight legs, and are soft and crazy comfortable – not quite as soft and comfy as your favorite pair of sweatpants, but close.
Chinos for men also come in a wide range of colors (fun fact: “khaki” is actually a color, not technically a style of pants) and are more put-together-looking than denim. Whether you work a 9-to-5 in a traditional office setting, you’re looking for something snazzy for date nights with your partner, or you’re just flat-out tired of wearing sweats, here are the 10 best chinos for men right now.
Best Buy
1. Todd Snyder 5-Pocket Chino
Todd Snyder is synonymous with refined, attractive clothing that’s both impeccably tailored and exceedingly durable. That’s exactly the case with the Slim Fit 5-Pocket Chino, an excellent option for multi-tasking between work and casual settings.
To begin with, these chinos for men are constructed like denim and have double-reinforced stitching. They wear far more comfortably than your favorite pair of jeans, though, thanks to the poly and lycra included in the cotton twill fabric blend. While the chinos are stretchy, they keep their shape well throughout the day so you always look put-together.
The Slim Fit 5-Pocket Chino comes in about a dozen colors and there are always one or two relevant seasonal options. For spring, for example, there’s the pale green light cactus color. They also come in several inseam length options, ranging from 30-34” – although curiously, there are only even-numbered inseams.
2. Thom Browne “Unconstructed” Chino Trouser
Generally speaking, people either love or hate Thom Browne. Whichever end of the spectrum you fall under, there’s no denying the designer has an incredible knack for elevating basic wardrobe staples.
The Unconstructed chinos are, as you may expect based on the name, a decidedly unstuffy, modern pair of pants. They feature a contemporary straight-leg silhouette with Thom Browne’s signature cropped length and a high-waisted fit. While these chinos do not bear the four white stripes on the leg like some other Thom Browne pants, they do have a white logo plaque on the front left leg and a three-color striped belt loop.
In true Thom Browne fashion, be sure to wear no-show socks with your chinos, or forego them altogether.
3. UNIQLO Slim-Fit Chino Pant
If you’ve been with us for any amount of time, you’ll know we’re huge fans of UNIQLO at Next Luxury. The company absolutely nails wardrobe staples like, well, chinos. They’re also crazy affordable at just under $40!
In the case of the UNIQLO Slim-Fit Chino, these pants are wrinkle-resistant and have an ultra-refined, clean look. A flat front, invisible side seams, slash-style hip pockets, and two rear button-closure slit pockets make these pants just as suitable for work as for date night or running errands. They also have a stretchy, lined waist.
The UNIQLO Slim-Fit Chinos come in several colors and waist sizes. While there’s only one length option, UNIQLO offers free hemming within 30 days of purchase.
4. Lululemon Commission Pant
Lululemon’s Commission Pants are the glorious result of combining tech pants with chinos. As Lulu describes the Commission Pant on its website, they’re “A classic chino, done our way.”
To that point, they have all the things people love about Lululemon. They’re sweat-wicking, they have ABC™ (anti-ball-crushing) technology in the crotch, they fit like a glove thanks to the four-way-stretch Warpstreme fabric, and they have clever hidden zippered pockets.
The Commission Pant also looks great. They’re a slightly more obvious athleisure style than some of the other chinos on this list, but an excellent option for work, day-to-day, business casual settings, and especially travel. Just leave them at home for first dates and more formal occasions.
5. KOTN Pleated Pants
Yes, pleats are back – but they’re nothing at all like the “Dad pants” of the 1990s and early 2000s. These pleats are sophisticated and flattering, and they effectively elevate an otherwise mostly casual pair of chinos.
KOTN is well-known for making outrageously comfortable, well-fitting clothing at wallet-friendly price points. These Pleated Pants fit that criteria perfectly, made from an amazingly light and soft gabardine twill material. They also have four pockets, including two full jeans-style pockets on the rear.
These KOTN chinos for men are designed to be worn either cuffed or full-length, giving you a variety of options in terms of casual or more dressy styling. They also come in a few unexpected but still totally refined colors, like the deeply jewel-toned Bronze.
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6. Paul Smith Standard Fit Chino Trouser
British designer Paul Smith is revered for putting his own creative, modern twist on traditional styles.
To that end, the Standard Fit Chino Trouser has a slim but straight leg and a modern mid-rise waist that flatters all builds and body types. The stretch cotton fabric contains 2% elastane for the perfect bit of comfortable stretch, so these chinos move with you while keeping their shape. They have four traditional pockets and an embroidered logo patch on the rear.
Keeping true with the brand’s image and signature style, these Paul Smith chinos for men come in a variety of colors, both traditional and not (think peach, for example, which is more wearable than you might think).
7. Dickies FLEX Slim Fit Chino Pants
Simply put, Dickies knows how to make a great pair of work pants. No matter which specific model you go with, Dickies pants are just as at home on a construction site or in the garage as they are in a business presentation or nice restaurant.
The FLEX fabric contains more spandex than the traditional Dickies material so the pants are exceptionally comfortable and have a nice stretch. However, they’re also just as rugged and tough as you’ve come to expect from a pair of Dickies. These mid-rise chinos for men also have a flex waistband and slim, tapered legs for all-day comfort and refined style. People may have a hard time believing you’re wearing Dickies!
One of the best things about Dickies, of course, is their almost unbelievable price point. At under $30 a pair, buy all the colors!
8. Dunhill Slim-leg Chino Trousers
Dunhill’s version of modern slim-fit chinos for men embodies understated style. They’re impeccably made using Italian craftsmanship techniques and as such, they’re perfectly tailored just as they are.
Setting themselves apart from a sea of men’s chinos, these Dunhill pants are made of a lightweight cotton twill blend containing 6% silk. Yep – silk. While that does mean they’re dry-clean only, it also means these chinos are truly lightweight enough to wear all summer long. Plus, they’re certainly office and date night appropriate.
The pants have a nice clean look, with four pockets, including two rear pockets with button closure. There’s also a single silver embellishment attached to one of the belt loops. Pair these with your favorite t-shirt on weekends or with a button-up and a blazer for office meetings during the week.
9. Polo Ralph Lauren Slim-fit Chino Trousers
There is perhaps no brand that says timeless and refined quite like POLO Ralph Lauren. The designer absolutely nails this classic wardrobe staple, creating a mid-weight pair of chinos made with 3% elastane. They won’t get saggy on you with wear, but they also won’t bunch up or restrict your movements.
The pants are also just the right weight to wear all year round and with just about anything. Favorite band tee? Check. Casual-but-not-too-casual polo shirt? Yep. Formal button-down tucked in? Definitely. The slim leg silhouette and rear darting make these chinos flattering and appropriate for just about anything you pair them with.
Best of all, the Polo Ralph Lauren chinos for men come in several easy-to-wear colors and are machine washable.
10. Carhartt WIP Master Pant
Carhartt has been a household name for well over a century (132 years, in fact!), but somehow also manages to remain one of the hottest brands in fashion. This is especially true of the Work in Progress (WIP) line, designed to be a bit more streetwear-like and ever-so-slightly less rugged.
The WIP Master Pant strikes a perfect balance between a slim fit and a relaxed fit with wider legs. They’re more fitted through the hips and seat, then taper slightly below the knee. And thanks to the tough-as-all-Carhartt Denison twill material, these chinos don’t lose shape throughout the day and there’s no odd bagginess around the knees or butt.
That thick twill fabric also means the WIP Master Pant can take a serious beating. The stitching is reinforced where it’s most important (the knees and seat, for example) and the pants don’t tear, fray, or fade easily. So, no one will be able to tell if you’ve worn a pair three times or 300.
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Chinos for men FAQs
By definition, chinos are a style of pants originally made for the military. They are dressier than khakis but less formal than slacks, or “dress pants.” Chinos are generally made of light or mid-weight cotton twill, and many modern variations contain spandex or elastane for added comfort and stretch. A couple of other distinct characteristics of chinos include having concealed stitching and pockets, unlike khakis where they are more visible.
Fit and comfort are everything when it comes to wearing chinos. They’re unflattering when they’re too baggy and can make you look sloppy rather than put-together. On the other hand, a pair that’s a bit too slim-fitting can be just as unflattering and make you look like you’re trying too hard to pull off a trend. When shopping for a pair of chinos, make sure they flatter your body and are comfortable enough to wear all day.
One of the best things about chinos is their versatility. They look just as great with a collared shirt tucked in as they do with a fitted graphic tee. For a thoroughly modern look, turn up the cuffs to show off your footwear or funky socks.
