In today’s blog, we’re going to take a closer look at how to style a pair of cool chinos. We’ve picked out five different looks, which we’ll now examine in more detail.
Chinos were not originally fashion items, but were instead produced for both the British and French armies in the mid-19th century. Since then, however, chinos have also found their way into civilian fashion, and there’s no doubt that they’ve been a key item in the fashion world ever since. News of the use of chinos in the British and French armies eventually reached the Americans. This led to a rise in interest and demand in the US, and a new fashion phenomenon was born.
(Here we see the British Army from 1846 wearing chinos)
(Chinos are beginning to make their mark on American street culture. The photograph was taken in the 1950s)
Since the 1950s, there have been significant developments in terms of materials, colours and style when it comes to chinos. Chinos are no longer workwear reserved for labourers. Today, they are often worn in various fashion contexts or to make a statement.
As you can see from the picture above, there are plenty of ideas on how to style a pair of smart chinos. On the far left, you can see how someone has chosen to style a pair of navy chinos with a black and white shirt. The key to putting together a good look is contrast. It’s all about finding two items of clothing that complement each other, whilst at the same time creating a strong contrast between them. If, for example, you choose to pair a pair of navy chinos with a navy-coloured shirt, you risk losing the ‘impact’ of your outfit. In this case, it might be a good idea to find a shirt with white or marbled buttons, which can create a bit of contrast between your chinos and shirt.
The next look you’ll see features a pair of lime-green chinos with a white button-up shirt. For some, experimenting with different colours when it comes to trousers might feel a bit daring. The most popular chino styles you see on the high street are undoubtedly black, navy and beige. But in fact, a pair of lime green chinos, for example, can be a really good alternative to your classic styles, without you going completely over the top. What we recommend you do in a ‘risky’ situation with chinos in colours such as red, green, yellow, etc. is to pair them with a white shirt or T-shirt. The unique thing about white clothing is that it works really well with most colour combinations, so you avoid your trousers stealing all the attention.
In the middle, we see a pair of sand-coloured chinos paired with a shirt and tie. As we mentioned earlier, chinos aren’t just something worn in the army. Although chinos are a fashion item, they’re also accepted in the vast majority of workplaces as part of the dress code. So you no longer have to wear boring workwear. With a smart pair of chinos and a stylish shirt, you also have the chance to make a bold fashion statement at work – as if that would bother anyone ;)
The fourth outfit you see offers a more relaxed look. Here you’ll see a pair of relaxed light grey chinos paired with a blue denim shirt. The key to nailing a look based around a pair of relaxed chinos is to choose a relaxed top as well. In the picture, you can see how a loose-fit denim shirt has been paired with the relaxed-fit chinos. We reckon a relaxed look is perfect for those days when you can’t be bothered to go all out with your outfit, or if you’re just popping out to pick up some bread rolls on a Saturday morning.
The last outfit is probably one of the ones you see most often. Here, they’ve opted for the ‘safe’ choice and paired beige chinos with a light blue shirt. When we say ‘safe choice’, we naturally mean that you can create a great look without going overboard with colours and combinations. This look is perfect if you’re heading into town or to a café and just want something stylish to wear.
We hope you’ve learnt a bit more about where chinos come from and, above all, found some inspiration on how to put together a really great look. Remember to follow us on Facebook so you can always keep up to date with what’s happening at TEESHOPPEN – and, of course, our brilliant offers, of which we have loads!
Chino trousers (TEESHOPPEN DK)
