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Nothing looks worse than horribly fitting chinos. For those older readers, they remember the the days of baggy, pleated chinos as the default. Finally we have gotten to a point where most brands have some version of a flat front, slim fit chino that can be worn in almost all situations. Below I have compiled a list of companies that make a good looking slim fit chino at various price points and quality levels. I hope if you’re in the market to find a couple pairs of “staple” chinos that can worn on a regular basis you can gain some value from this guide with a price that fits your budget. Lets get started!
H&M Slim Fit Chinos – $34.99
Notes: Even though I am not usually a fan of “fast fashion” or H&M in general, their chinos are one of the few items I think they do well. The price is unbeatable if you’re on a budget and it’s hard to turn down buying 3 pairs of chinos for just over $100. Great base chinos if you’re just getting into menswear and don’t want to risk too much.
Details of Note: 98% cotton / 2% spandex, imported from Bangladesh, India or Myanmar, eight colors to choose from.
J. Crew 484 Slim-Fit Stretch Chino – $89.50
Notes: An always solid entry from preppy legend J. Crew. These are the Slim Fit chino which is what we recommend, but J. Crew also has Skinny and Athletic Tapered fits if you like the “heroin chic” look or have larger than average legs due to athletics.
Details of Note: Cotton / Elastane, imported, comes in 16 colors as of the writing of this guide.
Bonobos Stretch Washed Chino 2.0 – $99
Notes: Bonobos started the trend of making slim fit chinos going mainstream, founded in 2008 to solve “khaki diaper butt.” They have 5 fits, but we recommend Slim as the default for most guys. They have a nice chart showing the fit differences if you want to get even slimmer or slightly more loose. Bonobos chinos do have a slightly “synthetic” feel to them compared to other chinos, most likely due to higher spandex percentage, but they look great and feel just fine once you get used to them. Bonobos also offers the most different chino width, length, and fit combinations, so if you have odd sizing, they are probably your best bet.
Details of Note: 92% Cotton / 8% Spandex, imported, 7 “Icon Status” staple colors that don’t really go on sale, and generally +10 colors that do end up on sale and the end of each season.
Ralph Lauren Slim Stretch Chino – $138
Notes: We couldn’t not include Ralph Lauren. Their prices have kept going up, so we can’t say they’re the best value compared to a J. Crew or Bonobos, but they do make an excellent chino if you’re willing to pay up just a bit more.
Details of Note: 97% Cotton / 3% Elastane, imported, 10 colors as of this guide, mostly classic staple colors.
Proper Cloth Di Sondrio Stretch Cotton Chino – $195
Notes: You can read our brand review of Proper Cloth here, but Proper Cloth offers custom clothing and their chino options are substantial, you can create a chino from waist size 26″ – 53″ and inseam length 26″ – 44″ long in 5 different fits, we recommend their “Slim” as default.
Details of Note: 98% Cotton / 2% Elastane, imported, Italian fabric, currently 6 colors, but they tend to change colors seasonally. Once you dip into custom sizing it’s hard to look back.
Incotex Cotton Doeskin Pants – $430
Notes: Incotex isn’t a commonly known brand within most people’s lexicon, mostly because they don’t advertise much and all they make are trousers. However, all they do is make trousers, and they really do have a level of detail that goes beyond any of the companies listed above. Are they absurdly expensive? Yes. Would I purchase 3 pairs of RL chinos from above instead of 1 pair of Incotex? Probably yes, but if you happen to be lucky enough to not have a budget, or if you only need 1 or 2 pairs of chinos and want the best of the best, these would be the choice.
Details of Note: Cotton / Elastane, imported, 5 colors available as of this article.
Let us know which you like the best or chose to purchase in the comments below!