Jeans vs. Chinos: Everything You Need To Know

We’ve all been here – staring into the abyss of our closets, trying to put our look together for the day, answering the important questions: “Where am I going today?” “Am I going to be inside or outside?” “Is work involved?” “Who am I going to be around?”

Or maybe you do none of these things and just grab the first pair of pants and shirt you see and you’re out the door without a care in the world. Must be nice. But for those of us that put more effort into our wardrobe, let me answer the age-old question that I’m sure you’ve been wondering about and were just too afraid to – what exactly is the difference between jeans and chinos?

Jeans

Jeans are the quintessential fashion basic. Well, jeans and t-shirts, but I digress. Jeans were first introduced in 1873 by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss and named after the city of Genoa in Italy, a place where cotton corduroy, called either jean or jeane, was manufactured.

Denim is one of the most versatile and durable fabrics and jeans transcend gender, age, and class – with most people owning more pairs of jeans than most other garments in their closet. Their appeal, as well as certain styles, will always be classic and timeless yet the design and the fabric technology involved will continue to evolve and improve with the times.

Chinos

The first reference to Chinos was in 1898 when American armed forces were stationed in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War and their uniforms were sourced from Chinese twill cotton. This colloquial term was born from the Spanish name for “China.”

Cut to after World War II, when returning GIs began wearing the plain-front trousers and chinos became a common sight on college campuses. Hollywood soon followed, leading a new generation to define chinos as a symbol of effortlessly cool American style.

Fabric and Color

Jeans are made from denim and heavy twill fabric and are mostly identified by their trademark blue color, though many fades and dyes of blue, as well as other colors, are always in play. Chinos are made from cotton, lighter twill fabric and even though they tend to be made mostly in shades of brown and skin tones, these days they can be found in a variety of colors as well. 

Fit/Style

Jeans come in a multitude of variants and styles, including, but not limited to, slim, regular, boot cut, skinny, relaxed, and so on and so forth. New trends are constantly emerging and changing and coming and going.

Chinos tend to come in a standard fit and trouser style. If you need to show your flex in your chinos you can choose pleated or flat front or a different color. Also, roll your chinos at the ankle for a more casual, relaxed vibe.

Where to Wear

While jeans tend to be deemed as the more casual of the two, depending on how you style them, both jeans and chinos are interchangeable between casual and dressy, depending on fit, color, shoes, and how you style the rest of your look.

Seasons

Obviously, the weather varies depending on where you are located, but generally speaking, jeans tend to be worn year-round while chinos are reserved for the spring and summer months.

There you have it! Both jeans and chinos should be a staple in every stylish male’s wardrobe but don’t you feel better knowing the textbook difference definition of the two? Impress your friends with your knowledge of the history of both and look amazing while doing it.