Lightweight Stretch Chinos: The Perfect Pants for Summer
Photos and words by Mark David // Styling and modeling by Adam Gonon
Things are starting to heat up and summer is right around the corner. You know what that means - it’s time to pack away your chunky knit sweaters and wool trousers that kept you warm all winter and swap them out for something a little more weather appropriate.
(Don’t forget to add moth balls to protect those wools delicate wools/cashmere pieces!)
Summer Pants: The Basics
When it boils down to functionality, you have a few options here - a regular chino, a lightweight chino, a non-stretch chino, a stretch chino, and all the possible combinations to follow.
In this article we are going to be highlighting the best summer option we have available for the man on the go: The Lightweight Stretch Chino. So let’s get into it, shall we?
Why Chinos?
For many people, the chino can be seen as the perfect pant. A good pair of chinos will fit the bill, whether you work a 9-5 in an office or on your own schedule from your favorite coffee shop.
It can be dressed up or dressed down and comes in just about any color you could possibly want, making them one of the most versatile wardrobe pieces for any man.
It’s not quite as dressy as a 4-season wool, but not as casual as a washed denim. Hence, why we think it is a contender for the perfect trouser.
Chinos are typically made with a cotton twill (but ours has a hint of stretch to help the man on the move), allowing for a bit of forgiveness without sacrificing any durability.
A quick history lesson: Cotton Twill Chinos date back all the way to the 1800s and were designed for the military, made to be simple, durable and comfortable enough for soldiers to wear out. If we were around back then, our stretch chino would have been perfect for them!
While we offer six different washes in our lightweight stretch chinos, two of our most popular colors during the warmer months are stone and grey. I mean, it makes sense, right? The lighter the color means you’ll attract less sun, keeping you even cooler than ever.
Light pants look awesome in the summer and are a great alternative to darker blue and black styles that you would normally gravitate towards in a simple wardrobe. They help give you a fresh appearance and show that you put a little more effort into what you are putting on.
Styling Lighter Colored Chinos
Styling these lighter colors is a lot easier than you think. It’s simple, really - just think, contrast. If you are wearing something light down low, wear something darker up top (unless you are going for a tonal look, but we can talk about that another time).
Think about it this way, more times than not, people wear a trouser with either a white, light grey or light blue shirt. Just flip that styling and you have an ideal summer outfit.
As mentioned, avoiding lighter colors up top are the key to wearing lighter pants. The color of your top should complement whatever color you chose to wear as bottoms - in this case, stone and grey.
See how we styled it below...
Outfit Idea #1
Adam went for a more laid-back summer feel in his first look by pairing the stone trousers with an easy blue striped shirt. By opting for a dressier summer shoe like a leather loafer he instantly changed the whole feel of the outfit.
This is a perfect smart-casual summer look for another day at the office or a happy hour right after. If he wanted to switch it up to something a bit more casual, he could have easily swapped it out for a pair of simple low-cut trainers in white, black, or grey.
Outfit Idea #2
Adam’s second look has weekend warrior written all over it.
While he could have opted for a simple t-shirt paired with the lightweight stretch chinos in stone, he instead went with a classic white oxford - a staple that every man should have in their wardrobe.
To Cuff or Not to Cuff?
When people cuff their chinos they usually are trying to solve one common problem - an inseam that is way too big. When any bottoms are cuffed, they add weight to your whole look and end up taking a few inches off your whole leg length.
As you probably saw in the way Adam styled his chinos, he avoided the cuff as a whole. For us shorter guys, this is usually the best way to go if you are looking to create a more flattering look.
If you have shopped with us before you would have noticed that we took the tailor out of the equation when looking for any type of bottoms. We offer inseams under 30” to help make sure that you don’t need to end up rolling up any of your pants when you get them!
Note: Adam is 5’6 and wears a 29W x 27L in our chinos.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you are out to lunch, headed to the office, or (if you’re lucky) on vacation, these lightweight stretch chinos should be your top pick in the summer months.
You can wear them with a simple t shirt, a collared button-up shirt, a polo, or even pair them with a casual blazer.
