What to Wear with Chinos: 6 Outfit Ideas to Try On

The best chino pants for men today are nothing like those old high-waisted khakis your dad used to wear. Now, you've got a ton of options that give a sleek, slim look that's great for dressing up or keeping it laid-back. Unlike the bulky military pants from back in the day, today's chinos are made with stretchy fabrics and cool features like moisture-wicking and quick-drying. 

So, how to wear chinos to look and feel awesome? What fabric should you go for, and what colors are hot right now? In this guide, we'll tackle all your questions about men's chino pants and figure out what to wear with chinos for a fresh, modern look.

What are Chino Pants

Chinos are lightweight pants that were typically made of cotton. Yet, the longer they exist, the more materials, styles, and fits we see on the market called by this name. They first popped up as military uniforms in the late 1800s and were named "Pantalones Chinos"—"Chinese Pants" from Spanish—as the fabric was originally made in China.

Chinos typically have these features:

• A flat front design, generally without pleats, though pleated chino pants can occasionally be found;
• Stitching that is either concealed or non-contrast;
• Slanted front pockets;
• Jetted back pockets with or without buttons;
• A zippered fly;
• Belt loops instead of side tabs.

Chino’s Material

When shopping for chinos, the fabric is the first thing you should pay attention to since it affects how comfy they are, how long they'll last, and how they look overall. Most chinos these days are made from a lightweight cotton blend, as the main focus is comfort, and, luckily for all of us, the days of 100% cotton chinos are long gone. Here's a quick look at some common fabrics and what they're best for:

Cotton: Cotton is historically a go-to fabric for chinos—soft, breathable, and comfy—simply perfect for casual outfits and everyday wear. The modern textile industry gave us cotton chinos for men in all sorts of weights and styles, from light and breezy to heavier and more structured options.

Twill: Twill is more about the way the fabric is woven. Usually, twills are made from cotton and have this distinct diagonal pattern that makes them tough and adds nice texture. The reason they work well for chino pants— they're strong and don't wrinkle as easily as plain weaves do.

Polyester: Polyester is often mixed into fabrics as it's tough and doesn't wrinkle easily. While it doesn't breathe as well as cotton, it helps chinos keep their shape and stay stain-free. Polyester blends are great for a sharp look without a lot of work.

Blends: A lot of chinos are made with fabric blends to get the best of different materials. You'll find mixes like cotton and polyester for durability and wrinkle resistance, cotton with spandex for a little stretch and flexibility, cotton and linen for breathability and moisture-wicking, and many more.

Stretch Fabrics: Fabrics even with a little spandex or elastane are highly flexible and comfy. They let you move around easily while still fitting nicely and keeping their shape.

How Should Chinos Fit

Chinos should sit comfortably on your waist and hips, not too tight or baggy. Try the ones with a little stretch if you are going to move a lot, or go for natural blends if your main focus is breathability. When you're on the hunt for the perfect chino-style pants, you'll usually find a few main fits to choose from:

Regular chinos for men: This classic fit hangs straight from the hips to the ankles. It looks good on just about everyone and gives off a chill yet put-together vibe.

Men's slim-fit chino pants: This style has a slight taper from the thigh down. The legs narrow a bit, but not enough to look like skinny chinos. It's perfect for guys who want a cleaner look without feeling too tight.

Relaxed-fit chinos: This fit gives you extra room in the thighs and legs, so if you value comfort over a snug style, a relaxed design is your best bet.

Baggy chino pants: These pants are made for guys with muscular thighs, giving you extra space in the seat and thighs while still tapering down towards the ankle. Loose-fit chino pants nevertheless create a put-together look without an uncomfortable, restrictive feeling.

Outfit Ideas with Chino Pants

Chino pants are super versatile—you can rock them with just about anything. Up for a chill weekend vibe? Just throw on some sneakers and a T-shirt. Or maybe you want to dress things up for an important date?  Then add some dress shoes and a blazer. We'll toss around some ideas to spark your imagination below; keep reading!

With a Blazer

First of all, let's create a business-appropriate chinos outfit with a blazer and so-called work chinos. They are slightly more formal—they have pleats on the front and back, and usually a straight leg. Here, the foolproof matching would be the tonal one—use the pants and blazer of the same hue and add a dapper shirt in a similar color underneath. However, we highly recommend that you experiment with contrasts and pair the light-colored chinos with a dark blazer. It looks so modern and carefree, with that slight old-money flair we are so into these days.

Try out the linen pair from Tiger of Sweden—the Linen blazer with Linen straight-fit trousers in a matching cream color—for a sleek business summer look.

With a Dress Shirt

A dress shirt is something you wear for a special occasion like a date or a night out, so depending on the event, you can choose either a bold approach or a minimalist one. Bold means colors and patterns—a dress shirt with a floral print and slim-fit chinos in a solid color. Or these can be patterned summer chinos with a laid-back silk shirt. Yet, if your style is more understated, go for solid neutral colors for both top and bottom. Quiet luxury is always in trend.

We created a minimalist look and paired the black Lightweight cotton trousers from Dirk Bikkembergs with the beige Cotton shirt from Les Deux. These lightweight chinos are made to beat the heat and provide you with lots of comfort along with a fashionable look.

With a Shirt

If you don't need the polish of a dress shirt, choose a relaxed piece or an overshirt to pair with your smart casual chinos. Leave it untucked, unbuttoned, and layer it over a tee to hit that streetwear style. 

We paired the Regular suit trousers with the Bouclé overshirt from Les Deux—a versatile combo suitable for brunch with friends as well as for a date with someone special.

With a Denim Shirt

A dress shirt, an overshirt, what else do we have here… Ah, sure—a denim shirt! Although the perfect pairing would be double denim, we rarely find denim chinos for men in the collections. Yet sometimes you may encounter designer chinos made of denim, so if a Canadian tuxedo is your goal—keep looking!

We chose the classy grey pair from Les Deux—the Mellange suit trousers—and teamed it with the light blue Denim shirt. A simple but powerful combination.

With a Polo

What's the best way to style business casual chinos? You want something that hits the sweet spot between a dress shirt and a t-shirt—something that feels polished but still laid-back. Well, a knitted polo it is—a preppy staple for all your business casual looks. Play around with colors, designs, textures—create a look that will speak for itself.

Pair the Knit polo shirt with the Casual chino-fit trousers from Tiger of Sweden for a versatile outfit in cool tones. Neutrals are great when you need to stun with minimal effort.

With a T-Shirt

This look is already the epitome of comfort, so there is no need to worry about the casual side; rather, think about the stylish one. To make this easy combo look fashion-forward, concentrate on textures and patterns, but don't overwhelm the outfit. If you choose a bold graphic tee, keep men's casual chinos simple, and vice versa. 

That's exactly what we did in this attire—mixed the edgy Logo-printed cotton t-shirt from Moose Knuckles with the understated Velvet chino trousers from Aeronautica Militare.

FAQ

What shoes to wear with chinos?

Chinos are super flexible and can be matched with all sorts of shoes depending on the vibe you want to create. Pair chinos with sneakers or loafers for a laid-back outing. Dress shoes like brogues or oxfords will do the trick if you're going for a smart-casual appeal. And when it's chilly outside, throw on some boots with chinos—chukkas or desert boots pair really well.

Are chinos formal?

Chino pants aren't formal, so it's best to skip them for business meetings, fancy weddings, or any swanky events. But they're definitely a step up from super casual stuff, so think of them as nice 'in-between' pants.

What is the difference between chinos and trousers?

Trousers or slacks are basically dress pants that are usually made of wool or a wool blend. On the other hand, chinos are casual pants made from cotton twill or cotton blends.

What are chinos vs. khakis?

Khakis are basically casual cotton pants in a khaki shade; there is nothing unexpected here. Conversely, chinos is a much broader term—and it's not based on color. So, while all khakis can be considered chinos, not all chinos fall under the khaki umbrella since they can be any color you can think of.

The best colors for chino pants

Men's chinos come in a bunch of colors; that means you can spice up your wardrobe with just a few staples. Some of the best hues to pick are khaki, grey, olive green, burgundy, beige, and navy. If you're buying your first pair, stick with neutral shades like khaki, grey, or olive green.