Chinos or jeans: how to choose men's trousers

Trousers are the foundation of an outfit: if they fit well, you look put together even in the simplest T-shirt. For everyday wear most men choose between two options — chinos and jeans. Here is how they differ, how to choose the fit, rise and length, and what to wear your trousers with.

Chinos or jeans

Chinos are light cotton trousers in a smooth fabric, often with slanted front pockets. They look a little smarter than jeans but less formal than suit trousers.

Jeans are made of a heavier fabric and look more casual. They are perfect for weekends, walks and trips.

• Choose chinos if you are going to the office, a meeting or a family occasion, want to wear them with a shirt, or like lighter colours.
• Choose jeans if the whole outfit is casual: a T-shirt, a hoodie, a workwear jacket.
• The best answer is both: one pair of jeans for weekends and one or two pairs of chinos for weekdays.

From here on we'll talk mainly about chinos, but the rules of fit, rise and length apply to jeans too.

Fit

• Slim: narrow from hip to ankle, with a modern silhouette. A small amount of elastane makes slim trousers comfortable.
• Straight or regular: the leg runs straight from hip to hem, with more room in the thighs. Comfortable, and it suits men with a more athletic or larger build.
• Tapered: roomier in the thighs, narrowing towards the ankle. A middle option for anyone who finds slim trousers tight in the thighs.

Giordano has trousers in slim and regular fits: the olive pair is slim and the beige pair is regular. Both are 97% cotton and 3% elastane.

Rise

The rise tells you where the waistband sits.

• Mid rise: the waistband sits on the hips, just below the navel. The most versatile option.
• High rise: the waistband sits closer to the natural waist. Good with a tucked-in shirt, and it makes the legs look longer.
• Low rise: the waistband sits below the hips. Less common today and not as comfortable when sitting.

Length

• No break or a slight break: the hem just touches the shoe or sits slightly above it. The modern choice for slim chinos and sneakers.
• Full break: the fabric rests on the shoe in a few folds. A more classic choice for a straight fit.
• Rolled: turn the hem up once or twice to show the ankle. It looks good in summer with sneakers or soft shoes.

Try trousers on with the shoes you plan to wear them with. If the fit and waist are right but the trousers are a little long, any tailor can shorten them easily.

What to wear them with

• A T-shirt and sneakers — for the weekend.
• A white or light blue shirt — for the office. Tuck the shirt in and pick a belt that matches your shoes.
• A shirt with a sweater over it — for autumn and winter days.
• A T-shirt and a light jacket — for a walk around town.

Colour pairings: beige trousers look good with navy, white and light blue, while olive works with white, grey, black and brown.

In short

• The fit suits your build
• The waistband doesn't dig in when you sit or gap at the back
• No extra folds at the back
• The length suits your shoes
• The colour works with several of your tops

You can browse Giordano men's trousers, plus shirts and T-shirts to go with them, in our online shop or try them on in Giordano stores in Yerevan Mall, Dalma Garden Mall, Rio Mall and MegaMall Armenia, open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.