Basics: Khakis/ Chinos

History:

Two pairs of pants with a similar history. Like many articles of clothing, these trousers have a military heritage.

Khakis-

Between 1846 and 1848, the English had army units in India. At this time these units wore the traditional redcoat and white trouser uniform of the British Royal Army. However, this would change after Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden was tasked to raise a Corps of Guides. Sir Harry Lumsden recruited from the local Pathan tribes of the Yusufzai, Khatak and Muhammadzai. The Corps of Guides wore twill cotton trousers dyed a khaki color to blend in better with their surroundings. The term Khaki is derived from the Urdu word for dust or stone. The khaki colored uniforms were adopted by the British Indian Army by 1866. The khaki uniform became the official uniform of the British Army by the end of the Second Boer War in 1899.

Chinos-

The American Army’s fighting in the Spanish American War in 1898 began to wear khaki colored trousers as a part of their uniform. The fabric for these pants came from China and were called, pantalones chinos, by the Spanish speaking population The American Soldiers would later adopt this name for their pants and shorten it to chino. The chino became the American uniform in 1902. But it wouldn’t be until after World War Two, WW2, that chinos would become a hallmark of American Ivy and Prep style. After WW2, returning from the war GIs kept their chinos from their uniforms and began wearing them in their day to day lives. The most notable instance of this was on American college campuses where returning Soldiers were able to attend utilizing the GI Bill. After WW2, the chinos became a staple in American style being adopted as a more casual pant from wool trousers but dressier than denim.

Khakis and chinos do have some differences although often overlooked. Khaki pants are khaki, tan, stone, or light brown in color with a bigger fit and lighter weight than chinos. Chinos are a cotton twill fabric that is heavier weight than khakis due to their military heritage as the American uniform dress trouser. Chinos come in a variety of colors from bright yellows to more muted pastels. Chinos can also have a heavily prep influence with emblems embroidered on them.

Classics Never Die-

The classic Ivy or Preppy look takes you back to college campuses after WW2. Featured here are two looks that would have been at home on any college campus.

First is a navy cable knit sweater, white oxford shirt, and khaki chinos.

How to Wear:

Khakis and Chinos have become staples of any man’s style. Both can be worn more formally with a button down shirt, tie, oxfords, and a blazer or they can be worn more casually with an open neck button down shirt or polo shirt.

Second is a light gray cardigan, white oxford shirt, gray, navy, and blue check tie, and navy chinos.

Modern Take On Prep-

Although not my usual styling tip, this is better than a tshirt and hoodie. This look combines facets of classic prep with a striped oxford shirt and charcoal chinos but, the zip up hoodie and suede sneakers make it a more modern look.

Summer Style-

When it starts to get hot, chinos are a great pair of pants to dress up your regular outfits.

Here tan chinos are paired with a light blue polo shirt and brown derby shoes.

You can also dress up your bright summer chinos. Here I have styled nantucket red chinos with a blue chambray sport coat and white oxford shirt.

Dressed Up-

Chinos are not only great for when you want to dress up a casual look, but can also be dressed up.

Here I have gray chinos paired with a charcoal hopsack blazer, black cardigan, and white oxford shirt.

For the colder parts of the year, I have charcoal chinos with a gray tweed jacket, navy tweed vest, white oxford shirt, and a navy and white check tie.

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