How You Can Style Your Chinos (Guide)

How can you style your chinos for almost all occasions from work to play at any age are good questions. Chinos are a summer favorite. They look dressier than jeans. This post addresses how to wear them from spring to fall from the weekend to the office when HR permits business casual style. Read to get inspired by the versality of stylish outfit possibilities with chinos.

Updated: 1/17/2022

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What Are Chinos?

The term chinos refers to trousers made from chino cloth. If the pants are dyed khaki (light brown), they are called khakis. However, in both cases, the twill fabric consists originally of 100% cotton. Today also some (cheap) cotton-synthetic mixed fabrics are used. In the mid-19th century, these cotton pants were part of the French, British and American military uniforms. After the Spanish-American war, war veterans came back from the Philippines with these pants and made them popular in the US. Today they are often worn in business casual style offices as summer trousers, and they are a favorite to meet the dress code for female engineers.

What Looks Good with Chinos?

Chinos are very versatile and look neat. Thus, a button-down shirt is a great choice. furthermore, they look great with crew-neck sweaters and T-shirts, especially graphic Tees as well as short- and long sleeve polo shirts. A casual blazer, sports coat or knit-cardigan work as well. Depending on the trousers’ color an utility jacket can make a great outfit. More on styling utility jacket in the guide at the link. In other words, you can dress chinos up and down easily.

Which Shoes to Wear with Chinos?

The answer to this question depends on what you wear with your chinos. When paired with a button-down shirt and sport jacket loafers and formal dress shoes are best. In case of casual styling – graphic Tee, T-shirt – driving shoes or canvas sneakers are good choices for a weekend look. When you go for a feminine preppy outfit, pointy-toe pumps are best. Going for an edgy look? Then try gladiators with a high heel.

Chinos Are a Casual Summer Staple

The following outfit idea features a sleeveless summer blouse with a waterfall cardigan for the office with pointy toe silver snake imprint pumps.

The following chinos outfit idea presents a summer going out with the friends look. The leather shell gives these classical engineer pants an edgy vibe. The colorful gladiator sandals and scarf add pops of colors to create a non-boring neutrals outfit.

The next look is a summer classic with a Hawaiian shirt.

Styling Chinos in Fall

You can wear your favorite summer pants also in fall. Combine them with a knitted tank and an utility jacket. In the example look below, the turquoise fall sandals pick up the turquoise of the floral pattern of the top. The satchel picks up the tan in the top’s pattern. I used a simple DIY clasp to add shape.

Street Style Chic

The next photo shows an example with a denim shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a vest and tank top underneath. This outfit allows to take off the shirt, knot it around the hips, and put the vest over the T-shirt for extra style. In the evening, the leather vest and rolling down the sleeves hinder cooling of the body. As a result, you won’t have to pretend to be on a rush when you meet your former neighbor in the grocery store parking lot. You can catch up on the newest gossip of your old neighborhood instead. 🙂

The following look pairs a cashmere sweater and denim jacket with the summer pants for a street style chic fall outfit. This look is also an alternative of typical Casual Friday outfits, or a great way how to dress as a female engineer in a startup engineering firm.

Chinos Work Outfit Ideas

The next example works as a business casual work outfit in early autumn or in an über air-conditioned office in summer. Outside just knot the cardigan around your waist.

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Last, but not least an outfit idea with a blazer. I like to wear this look when I dress for a science conference.

How to Style Chinos in a Nutshell

This garment acts like a basic. You can wear it from late spring to early fall and style it for all kind of dressing situations that ask for a version of casual style. As a result, these pants work for a variety of personal style. Minimalism, feminine preppy, American Classic, business casual, posh casual, street style chic and urban style.

Don’t forget to add a bag that’s appropriate for where you go. Accessorize for a finishing touch again keeping in mind the occasion. See this guide on accessorizing with belts.

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