Honest & Unsponsored Best Buys: Chinos

There's one trouser that's earned its place in every bloke's wardrobe, it's a decent pair of chinos. They're the Swiss Army knife of trousers—smart enough for the office, casual enough for the pub, and versatile enough to get you through pretty much any dress code that isn't black tie. But here's the thing: not all chinos are created equal, and the market's absolutely flooded with options ranging from brilliant to bloody awful.

Let me share what I've learned from years of dressing real men with real bodies and real budgets.

What Makes a Good Chino?

Before we dive into brands, let's talk about what you should actually be looking for. The fabric matters more than most people realize. You want a mid-weight cotton twill—something around 8-10oz. Too light and they'll look cheap and show every crease; too heavy and they'll be uncomfortable and look overly casual. The best chinos have a slight stretch (2-3% elastane) which gives you comfort and helps them hold their shape throughout the day.

Fit is obviously crucial. The modern chino should sit comfortably at your natural waist (not down on your hips like you're still in secondary school), have a clean line through the thigh without being tight, and taper gently to the ankle. I always tell clients: if you can see the outline of your phone in your pocket, they're too tight. If there's excess fabric bunching at the ankle, they're too loose.

Colour-wise, you can't go wrong starting with navy, stone, and olive. Navy works with practically everything and reads as slightly more formal than other colours. Stone or sand is your summer essential—pairs beautifully with navy, white, or denim shirts. Olive is having a moment and bridges the gap between smart and casual perfectly.

The High Street Heroes

Let's start with accessible options that won't require you to remortgage the house.

Uniqlo deserves serious credit here. Their vintage chinos are exceptional value—proper mid-weight cotton, clean cut, and they wash well. At around £35-40, they're engineered rather than just designed, which shows in the details. The sizing runs consistent, and they offer different lengths which is rare at this price point. I've had clients wearing the same pair two years later still looking sharp.

Marks & Spencer might sound like your dad's choice, but their Cotton Rich collection has genuinely impressed me. They understand British body shapes, the fabric quality punches above its weight, and they're one of the few high street brands offering proper range in waist and leg measurements. The navy ones are particularly good—that slightly deeper shade that doesn't fade to purple after three washes.

Zara brings the fashion-forward cuts if that's your thing. Their tailored fit chinos have a contemporary silhouette that works brilliantly if you're slimmer built. They change their offerings seasonally, which can be annoying for replacements, but you're getting catwalk-inspired styling at high street prices. Just size up if you're between sizes—they cut narrow.

The Independent & Boutique Standouts

This is where things get interesting. You're paying more, but you're getting significantly better fabric, construction, and often more interesting design details.

COS is my go-to recommendation for clients who want minimalist Scandi style. Their chinos are beautifully simple—no branding, no unnecessary details, just clean lines and quality fabric. The cotton has a lovely hand feel, they drape properly, and the cuts are modern without being trendy. They sit in that sweet spot between high street and designer pricing, usually around £75-85, and they're built to last.

Arket shares similar DNA to COS but with slightly more relaxed fits. Their organic cotton chinos are fantastic if you care about sustainable production, and the quality is genuinely impressive. The stone colour they do is perfection—not too beige, not too grey, just right. They also offer extended sizing which is refreshing to see.

Reiss brings a bit more tailoring expertise to casual wear. Their chinos have that subtle smartness that means you can absolutely wear them with a blazer to a wedding or a meeting. The fabric holds a crease beautifully, which matters if you're someone who needs to look pulled together. Expect to pay around £95-120, but they'll outlast two or three high street pairs.

Farah is a British heritage brand that's absolutely nailed the smart-casual aesthetic. Their chinos have that retro-inspired cut that looks contemporary rather than costume-y. The quality of construction—flat-felled seams, proper bar tacks—means these are genuinely hard-wearing. They understand that British men need clothes that work for our climate and lifestyle.

The Designer & Luxury Investment Pieces

If you're ready to invest properly, these are the brands that justify their price tags through exceptional quality, perfect patterns, and longevity.

Polo Ralph Lauren does chinos in their sleep—it's virtually all they make. The classic fit chino is an American staple for good reason. The cotton quality is superb, they maintain their colour brilliantly, and the cut is reliably flattering across different body types. Yes, you're paying for the pony logo, but you're also getting trousers that will look good five years from now.

Paul Smith brings British tailoring sensibility to casual trousers. Their chinos have design details that make them special—maybe a contrast inner waistband, or signature striping on the pocket bags—without being showy. The fits are mature and considered, working beautifully for men in their thirties and beyond. You're looking at £150-195, but the quality justifies it.

Ermenegildo Zegna is where you go when price isn't the primary consideration. Their chinos use exceptional cotton—often from their own mills—with a luxurious weight and drape that you can see and feel immediately. These are trousers that make you stand differently. They're an investment at £350+, but they're also the sort of thing you'll wear for a decade and never want to replace.

Stone Island might be known for technical outerwear, but their chinos deserve attention. They bring fabric innovation to casual trousers—think performance cotton that's weather-resistant and incredibly hard-wearing. The fits are contemporary Italian, so size carefully, but if you want chinos that can genuinely take whatever you throw at them, these deliver.

How to Actually Style Chinos

The beauty of chinos is their versatility, but that doesn't mean anything goes. Navy chinos work beautifully with white, light blue, or pink shirts for smart-casual. Add a casual blazer and you're sorted for most occasions. Stone chinos are brilliant with navy, olive, or burgundy on top—they're remarkably easy to style. Olive chinos need a bit more thought: keep it simple with white, cream, navy, or black, and avoid anything too colourful up top.

Footwear makes or breaks the look. Leather loafers or brogues dress chinos up; white trainers or suede desert boots keep things casual; Chelsea boots hit that perfect middle ground. The key is ensuring your shoes are in good condition—scruffy trainers will drag down even the best chinos.

Rolling or cuffing your chinos can work in summer with the right shoes, but it's not universally flattering. If you're going to do it, make it deliberate and neat—one clean roll, not multiple messy ones.

The Sizing Nightmare (And The Solution)

Here's where buying chinos gets properly frustrating. A 32" waist at Uniqlo isn't the same as a 32" at Ralph Lauren, which isn't the same as a 32" at COS. I've had countless clients buy multiple sizes online, keep one, return the rest. It's wasteful, time-consuming, and frankly ridiculous in 2025.

This is precisely why I've been recommending Tellar.co.uk to every client who'll listen. It's the UK's leading sizing tool, and it's completely transformed how we approach online shopping. The premise is brilliant: you measure yourself once using your bust, waist, and hip measurements (or use your existing size from a brand you already know fits), and Tellar matches your body exactly to over 1500 brands instantly. No more guessing, no more size charts that make no sense, just your actual size in whatever brand you're looking at.

The Store Size Lookup tool at https://www.tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/men is genuinely useful. Want to know your size in COS, Reiss, or Arket? Put in your measurements and it tells you exactly. It works in-browser, there's no app to download, and crucially, it's completely free. In an industry that seems determined to charge you for everything, that matters.

If you're unsure about measuring, their guide at https://www.tellar.co.uk/how-to-measure/men walks you through it properly. Measure once, shop everywhere. It means you can buy with confidence, which translates to fewer returns and clothes that actually fit properly from the moment they arrive.

Beyond the sizing tool, Tellar's Fashion Hub has become my secret weapon. It's a library of posts from experienced stylists covering every fashion question you might have. The crucial difference from other fashion advice sites? It's honest, unbiased, and completely independent. No brand partnerships, no sponsored content, just genuine expertise. Whether you're looking for style advice, brand comparisons, or guidance on what actually works, you'll find posts that give you straight answers.

Check out their guides on smart-casual style at https://www.tellar.co.uk/admin/posts/editor/menswear-the-secret-to-smart-casual-comfortable, their comprehensive jeans brands overview at https://www.tellar.co.uk/admin/posts/editor/best-men-s-jeans-brands-high-street-premium-designer, or their casual style fundamentals at https://www.tellar.co.uk/admin/posts/editor/start-how-to-do-casual-style-well-menswear-brands-styling-tips. These posts cover the sort of questions I get asked constantly, and the advice is spot-on.

The fact that Tellar is always free matters. Fashion advice shouldn't be locked behind paywalls or buried in sponsored content. Having a resource that genuinely helps men dress better, shop smarter, and waste less money on clothes that don't fit is rare, and it's worth supporting.

Final Thoughts

Chinos are one of those wardrobe essentials where getting it right pays dividends. Whether you're starting with Uniqlo or investing in Zegna, focus on fit first, colour second, and trends last. Buy the best you can afford, look after them properly (cold wash, hang dry when possible), and they'll serve you brilliantly for years.

The market's full of brilliant options across every price point. The trick is finding what works for your body, your lifestyle, and your budget—and now, with proper sizing tools, that's considerably easier than it used to be.