Navy Chinos: 9 Ways to Wear This Summer Favourite | Curated Mint

Navy chinos are a staple piece of men’s fashion. No wardrobe would be complete without a good pair of smart casual trousers. Here’s our guide on what to wear them with.

The Chinos

The first and most important thing when choosing a pair of chinos is to make sure they fit. You can go for a range of looks, and it’s as easy as following the general rules you use when picking jeans. If you’ve got a slightly bigger build, or you’ve just had enough of the skinny look, then opt for a slim or wide leg. They’ll give you a unique look and are versatile enough to go with a variety of styles. They’re also a breeze to cuff, meaning you can alter with a few simple rolls of material.

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If you’ve got a smaller body shape and the skinnier silhouette suits your frame, then go for a skinnier fit design. You can still cuff your chinos, but don’t go overboard with it, as making a slimmer fit style too short will only look like they’ve shrunk in the wash, rather than look unique and stylised like the looser design. A slimmer fit is also great for smarter looks and is a good replacement for more formal looking, tailored trousers.

Smart

Navy chinos look great in a smarter look. Their dark colour instantly gives a hint of sleek sophistication. They’re also easily to dress up than traditional black trousers, as they go with more colours and can, therefore, be merged into a number of looks.

The Chinos

A slimmer silhouette creates a more formal, sleek appearance, so if you can try going for a slim fit design. Skinny fit might be pushing it a little and is better if you’re going for a less conventional formal look, such as an overall skinny fit suit look.

As a general rule, it’s better to leave out cuffing them, as this will give an informal, unfinished look that doesn’t fit in with the smart vibe you’re going for. If you want to keep your chinos extra classy then make sure you run the iron over them. Be sure to do this properly though to ensure you don’t iron in any creases, and end up with a sleek, tailored look.

The Outfit

A white Oxford shirt is a classic piece, and it’s ideal for matching with a good pair of navy chinos. Make sure it’s long enough to tuck in, and if you want to add some dimension to the look, add a brown leather belt – making sure it’s not too thick. To keep things extra formal you can even throw on a tie, but keep it un-patterned and in a simple black or navy, and remember to add a blazer or suit jacket over the top to complete the look.

You have your choice of colours when it comes to jackets, and you can easily go for a neutral, pulled together look by going for a matching navy blazer. You can also go for some contrast by pairing your chinos and shirt combination with a light grey suit jacket. Keep the blazer or jacket slim fit, and make sure to keep the detailing, like pocket squares or pin lapels, to a minimum.

Shoes

For a simple, easy combination go for a pair of brown leather shoes. Blue chinos and brown shoes are a classic colour combination and don’t clash. so it’s a good place to start if you’re unsure of what shoes to pick.

For a formal look it’s best to go with something streamlined and well-fitting, so try a pair of Oxford shoes or brogues if the weathers on the cool side. You can even try out some well-polished Chelsea boots if you’re going for a more modern style

For something lighter try a pair of penny or tassel loafers and make sure you’re either wearing invisible socks or none at all.

Smart Casual

Leading onto the dress code most men struggle with now. It can be hard to know how to merge smart and casual pieces together while keeping the look put together and safe from clashing. However, when you think about how versatile your blue jeans are it should be a little less intimidating on how to style them in a smart casual way.

The Chinos

For a smart casual look, you can go a little more experimental with the fit of your chinos. Unlike with the smart look, where a slim line design was preferred, you can go for skinny, wide leg and everything in between with a smart casual style.

You also have more freedom in how you want to cuff your chinos, as something as simple as this can help elevate an outfit that seems too formal, to something more relaxed and alternative.

The Outfit

Navy chinos are versatile enough to bridge the gap between smart and casual. Try teaming some with a navy polo shirt and some smart white trainers. The polo is a great way to keep things casual whilst bringing some formality to the look, whereas the trainers tone it down.

Shoes

You can go for a range of shoes with a smart casual look depending on the rest of your outfit. If the majority of your outfit is slim lined and formal, then you can add a casual twist with something like a pair of white plimsolls. However, if your outfit is more focused towards the relaxed look then you can maintain a smart vibe with something smarter like some neat loafers, brogues or derbies.

Casual

This is where you can go a little bolder with your look and experiment with patterns, textures and designs. Choose any design that you like and make sure to try out turn ups and various footwear and colour combinations.

The Outfit

Just because you’re going for a casual vibe doesn’t mean you can’t go for a put together look, and there are ways that you can embrace a more relaxed outfit while still looking sharp. Go for some texture and layer a simple jumper under a sleek varsity jacket, adding even more of a casual look with some coloured trainers. For an outfit like this, where the top half is quite bulky with layers, keep the chinos slim fit to help balance out the look.

You can also try out a simpler look with some wide leg chinos, cuffed at the ends and paired with a crew neck T-shirt, boat shoes and a denim jacket. This gives a clean, preppy look – ideal for a light look that’s relaxed and put together.

Shoes

Depending on your outfit you can go for a range of shoes. For a preppier look, shun the typical loafers and go for something more casual, yet still in keeping with the style, with some boat shoes. You can also try out some lace up boots for an alternative look and trainers for a sporty vibe.

How to Wear Navy Chinos

• Versatile: The navy chino is an adaptable piece of clothing that can be worn in a variety of styles and looks.
• Get the Preppy look: As an alternative everyday style try wearing some with a classic preppy jumper.
• Smarten up: Wear your chinos with a blazer and some smart leather shoes in black or brown.
• Keep it Casual: Tone it down by wearing a polo shirt or a T-shirt. Layer your look with a casual jacket.

On That Note

We’ve given you just a few examples of the ways you can dress up your navy chinos, and there are loads of styles and looks you can go for. No matter if you’re going for a smart, smart casual or casual look it’s easy to achieve a neat outfit that effortlessly merges comfort and style.

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