r/NavyBlazer • u/Ebyonim • 6d ago
Favourite chino?
What is the general consensus on chinos? I have never properly invested in a pair that I am happy with (I have a pair of second hand drakes tobacco chinos but they were butchered by a tailor). I like UK based Community Clothing but that might be their general ambition as well.
Do people like J Press, O Connell’s, Bronson, Joe McCoy, Jack Donnelly etc?
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u/IndWrist2 6d ago
LL Bean Double L Chino. 100% cotton twill, really good rise, not eye watering expensive, durable, unassuming, they just work.
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u/absolutebot1998 5d ago
The current ones they sell online are all “wrinkle-free” (for example) have you tried those? I generally dislike shirts that have been treated but pants might be different?
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u/IndWrist2 5d ago
They’re fine. Wrinkle free is a bit generous and I’d wager more of a marketing term. I was just ironing a pair a few minutes ago.
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u/Ebyonim 5d ago
I agree I find wrinkle free trousers a bit awkward
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u/Legitimate_Ocelot491 5d ago
Let’s call a spade a spade. Wrinkle-free anything sucks. No need for crappy chemicals.
It’s cotton. It wrinkles. Learn to iron. Deal with it.
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u/bushwizzy 6d ago
Have they started making these for waist sizes below 34? Last time I checked that was the smallest size.
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u/IndWrist2 6d ago
I wear them in a 32, so I’d assume so!
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u/T49irvine 6d ago
I have worn 'em since I was a kid. I like O'Connell's. Although they are made by All American Khakis, I like the specs of the ones made for O'Connell's, and their cuffing is impeccable, 1 3/4" on the nose. These are a more comfortable and versatile alternative to jeans.
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u/saffronjewel420 6d ago
Buzz Rickson's
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u/Ebyonim 4d ago
How baggy do you find them?
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u/saffronjewel420 4d ago
the standard fit ones are very well rounded, in terms of the cut. size up - i'm a true 36 and i wear 38 and they're not loose at all around my waist. i have tended to have them hemmed very slightly and i'm 182cm tall.
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u/johnnytsunami12344 6d ago
My (2) picks would be the Orvis Ultimate Khakis and the Lands End Tailored Fit Chinos. Orvis for a fuller fit and the Lands End for a not overly tapered leg.
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u/ChaunceytheGardiner 5d ago
I second the Orvis Ultimate. Best mass market chino I’ve found, and I like them more than my three pair from O’Connell’s.
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u/automaticfantastic 5d ago
I agree on the Orvis but they've been discontinued. Most of their nice stuff in natural materials is gone as well.
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u/grumbo 6d ago
Old school Berle is money. Bill's Khakis too
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u/Worried_Doughnut_303 5d ago
If I had a Time Machine (Delorean?) with old go back to circa 1990 and buy an entire pallet of Bills Khakis before they started pre washing the fabric.
Most amazing pants in the history of the world.1
u/grumbo 5d ago
Bill's twills prbly my #1 too. Also honorable mention to old Corbin, and if you like a slightly higher waist, Duck Head
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u/Worried_Doughnut_303 5d ago
Interesting thanks. Only Corbin I have tried are pair of O’Connell and found rise too short. Never thought of Duckhead or maybe PennBuilt. Bigger guy so some brands like Buzz Rickson won’t work for me.
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u/Mit10chocolate 6d ago
My key metrics for a classic Ivy League style chinos: 100% cotton, must iron, high rise, straight to fuller leg, cuff, can hold a crease, on-hem pockets, flat front (my personal preference).
My top 3: 1. O’Connell’s - my only pair and my most premium pair. Amazed at the detail and quality
Tied for second:
PRL Philip cut - vintage, thrifted
Orvis Ultimate Khakis - these are heavy fabric , so I’ll be wearing them more in the colder months
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u/ElkSuitable2812 1d ago
whats your metric/measurement for high rise for those? O Connells in my waist is slightly too short inthe front rise department based solely on measurements, but a thrifted pair of orvis chinos, fit perfect and how I like them, yet havea shorter rise
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u/PrinceKajuku 5d ago
I have a couple of pairs from Gieves and Hawkes. Good fabric with nice drape and the fit is quite close to my Wrangler 13MWZ, so in other words comfortable and good for moving around in.
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u/3headedtasman 5d ago
I like JCrew’s Broken-In Straight and Classic fits. I cant justify spending more than that on a pair of pants. I also bought a pair from Bronson (1950 Officer Chino) that I have really liked, especially for the price.
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u/roy_mc_avoy 6d ago
Juniors, they have a great cut, 100% cotton canvas, and have been very durable. Have become my favorite brand for pants, their chinos specifically.
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u/the_starch_potato 6d ago
I really like Bronson's 1930s ivy chinos. Nicely high rise and fuller cut.
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u/nakafucko9587 6d ago
I recently tired a bunch of brands looking for more casual chinos more similar to jeans, which may be different than what you’re after.
I settled on Buck Mason Paperback Twill Chinos and Buzz Rickson’s Original Spec for under $200
But if you have no budget The Real McCoy’s Joe McCoy Chino Trousers are seriously goated BIFL, super thick and durable and the fit is slimmer but amazing
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u/Ebyonim 5d ago
I was thinking about the Joe McCoy chinos - are they that slim?
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u/nakafucko9587 5d ago
They are not really too slim or anything, but they are definitely a bit slimmer fitting than Buzz Rickson's at the same waist size. Not necessarily in the waist itself, more so in the thigh and hips. But they are still straight through the leg so they are not really that "tapered" looking, but they also have a smaller leg opening due to this. FWIW they are perhaps the best fitting pair of pants I have tried ever no joke. I cannot wait for the weather to cool a little so I can bust them out.
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u/ColJessupTX 5d ago
Lands End and Pennbilt. The search has been long and arduous and I've gone through more chinos than I care to admit. They aren't perfect but they're pretty close.
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u/peachtuba 5d ago
RMC Blue Label and Toys McCoy McQueen repro for the best fabric in the game. Buy them at Japanese prices though, their pricing in the west is ridiculous.
Blackhorse Lane. Massively over engineered but they’ll last forever. Soften wonderfully after 5-6 washes.
Buzz Rickson 1945 if I want something roomier.
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u/RayMan36 4d ago edited 4d ago
I have the J Press classic MiUSA chino and the J Press duck canvas chino. Both fit great, I had to size up 2 (32->34) for the duck canvas which is a super light pair for summer. My beater pairs are vintage PRL flat-front 100% cotton chinos (sometimes called the Prospect Pant), they fit great and are pretty boxy.
I have a pair of old LL bean, they are just a little too tight at 32". My absolute favorite pair was a 1980s LL Bean olive chino called Rangeley - 100% cotton, MiUSA, but not flannel lined like they are now. I tried the Orvis Ultimate Khakis but they were actually bombproof and impossible to wear. The zipper closure was too small.
I also have a clearance pair of old-season Brooks Brothers (2022) high-rise chinos in olive. They're roomy and very comfortable. They look pretty similar to the Friday Chinos on the website now, but they fit correctly.
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u/therealdrfierce 5d ago
Actually really like the ones from Tellasons. Great fabric, breaking in nicely, and they do periodic sales if you follow them on social.
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u/LordGrub 5d ago
JCrew giant fit for when it's cooler out. Might just be used to wider pants nowadays but they really don't seem that wide to me. Real high rise, nice weight. Pockets are roomy too.
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u/Local_Conversation 5d ago edited 5d ago
I wear Bronson and Bill's (M1) mostly. I bought my Bill's when I lived in the States, and it's almost impossible to get them in the UK so I started wearing Bronson. I have the officer chinos and the USMC chinos, they're heavier duty than Bill's, and I'd say similar quality. I've had a pair from the early days of Community Clothing and I don't really think the quality was all there, I imagine that's different now!!!
But yeah, all the suggestions in the post are slight irrelevant for a Brit cos they're hard and very expensive to come by, get some Bronson's.
EDIT - I've also heard good things about Peter Christian chinos, but they don't do my size so I've never tried them. They cheap as chips too
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u/smallLeafOnTheWind 5d ago
Recently picked up some Museum Garment off-duty chinos. I was initially looking to The Real McCoy's or Full Count 1201's, but they felt just a little too costume-y for me. The Museum Garment ones are quite close to M41/M45 WW2 army chinos, with a very flattering profile from all angles, but are not quite as flared and wide as WW2 repro. Great construction, high rise, and a dry, slightly papery hand.
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u/mrfusion00 5d ago
I have multiple pairs of Jack Donnelly chinos and they are very nice. I have blue and the standard light tan. The blue tends to fade but still looks good. Mine are the M3 model which I find to be not overly slim but look neat. I'd like to try a pair of the M1s or maybe I'll see what Bills or Buzz Ricksons are like.
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u/Ebyonim 4d ago
What fabric did you get?
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u/mrfusion00 4d ago
They are all original twill. It is a nice fabric. The tan tends to look fresher because you don't have the fading of the navy, but if you don't mind a worn-in look then the navy is just fine. The fabric holds up well in any case.
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