When I was in college, the choice of pants was a no-brainer for us. Monday through Saturday – or even Sundays at times – it used to be jeans, jeans, and jeans.. Maybe formal pants for presentations, but that was the extent of our trouser styles
Once I discovered chinos, all of that changed.
These days, chinos form a major part of my closet – I have them in so many pairs in different colours! They are the perfect middle ground between dress pants and jeans which makes it very easy to dress up or dress down
For that same reason though, it can be difficult to decide what shoes to wear with chinos
Almost all shoes go well with these pants, so the shoes that you wear with chinos actually depend on other factors like the weather and occasion. Chinos will never be as dressy as a pair of dress pants, but you can wear formal shoes with chinos and combine it with a blazer for a cocktail-party outfit. For those casual lunches with friends, some nice-looking sneakers or boat shoes are great options for pairing with chinos.
Boots work well with chinos too, and can be worn together once the weather starts getting colder
Chinos And Khakis – Are they the same?
The confusion between chinos and khakis is very common, and manufacturers at times add to it by calling any cotton pant as either of these.
Although Chinos and Khakis are both made of cotton, Khakis are thicker and straight legged while Chinos are lightweight and generally tapered.
You may or may not find pleats in Khakis, but Chinos are flat-fronted as a rule.
Such distinctions make a pair of Chinos more dressier than Khakis. These days, both terms are used interchangeably. There are also ‘khaki chinos’ in the market today, which are basically khaki (dust) coloured chinos, or khakis that have been tapered.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You can wear all the shoes that we’ll discuss with both chinos and khakis
Top Tips To Help You Decide What Shoes To Wear With Chinos
While pairing shoes with chinos, there are a couple of factors that you should keep in mind. These will help you make a better choice
Based On Occasion
Chinos are a pretty versatile pair of pants – you can wear them for a wide variety of events. Whether it is a simple polo shirt with a pair of sneakers or dressed up with oxfords and a tucked-in button-up shirt, chinos will always look nice
Formal / Semi-Formal Events
When wearing chinos for more formal or semi-formal occasions, it would be best to go for smart and dressy shoes. Oxfords and brogues are perfect choices. Pair these with a crisp white shirt and a nice blazer, and you’re all set for that party or reception. Loafers and monk straps will work just as well.
A great way to add some interest to your outfit while wearing chinos in such events is to have chinos and blazer in different shades.
This helps because it doesn’t look like a suit, and gives you more freedom with your shoe choices.
Casual Events
Chinos offer a relaxed and smart vibe that makes them look on-point even with the most casual of outfits.
The next time you’re heading out of the house, swap those jeans for a pair of chinos and see how your casual instantly transforms smart-casual 😉 Add some nice sneakers and a basic t-shirt to the mix, and it’s one of those classic looks that can never go wrong
For casual occasions, it is best to stick to the casual shoe styles – boat shoes and suede loafers are some great options along with white sneakers.
You can also wear put on a denim jacket and then wear boots – the combination shouts uber-cool. Denim jackets can sometimes be weird with a pair of jeans, but chinos provide the perfect opportunity to look sharp and stylish
Based On Weather
Chinos, being lightweight, can often be considered as summer pants.
But the terminologies of khakis and chinos mentioned earlier means that these pants are also available in a heavier fabric. These heavier weight chinos can then be appropriate for the winter, and with the weather your shoe choices will change too.
Here’s how you can pick the right shoes for chinos in the various seasons
Spring / Summer
The Spring and summer months are very easy to style chinos. As the temperatures soar you’re looking for outfits that are airy and breathable, and chinos fit right in
Pick up a pair of loafers and wear them with a half-sleeved shirt up top. Oh and go with no show socks to show off those ankles for a complete summer vibe
Fabric sneakers, Boat shoes, and Chukka Boots are some more wonderful options to wear in the warmer months. For more dressed up events, replace the casual shoes with brogues and accordingly change what you’re wearing above the waist
Monsoon
Choosing the right pair of shoes for the monsoon has always been tricky.
You don’t need any special type of chinos for rains, the summer ones will work. But consider buying some weather-resistant boots or shoes if you’re going to be spending time outside while it’s raining
Another idea would be to waterproof your shoes – some good brands are available in the market – but the waterproofing that these sprays provide might not last very long in heavy rain.
Fall / Winter
If you live in a place that goes through proper winters (unlike us here in Bombay – what really is a winter?) it’s a good idea to have some heavier weight chinos ready to keep you warm
Fall / Winters are also the perfect time to get those boots out. Pick appropriate outerwear to wear this amazing combination – denim jacket or wool blazer for fall, adding an additional overcoat as the months get colder
Be it leather or suede, Chukkas, Chelseas or Dress Boots – any of the smart boot styles will look great with chinos
Top Shoes You Can Wear With Chinos
You have a wide variety of options when choosing shoes for chinos. More options also means more confusion though, and an incorrect pairing can often go wrong.
It is always good to have some basic guidelines, and the below list will help 🙂
#1: Sneakers With Chinos
Sneakers are inherently casual, which means that a chinos-sneakers pair will also be a casual combination.
Keep that in mind when opting for sneakers, and feel free to go bold with colours. Just make sure that either of the two balances it out
In Sneakers, the colour white ismy favourite to wear with chinos. They are better than other coloured ones because they can also be dressed up or down depending on the other clothing pieces that you choose.
White sneakers also are very easy to match with any pair of chinos; you don’t have give it a lot of thought and you know for sure that it will always look good
Note: I’ve read questions online asking if converse sneakers can be worn with shoes. Since these are sneakers only, it is possible to wear them. But I think that high-top Converse shoes look better with chinos as compared to the low tops
#2: Boat Shoes With Chinos
We can’t think of casual and not talk about boat shoes. Another great option to wear with chinos, if you want to stand out then go for boat shoes.
These shoes will work with all the pieces that you’d wear with sneakers – be it a polo shirt layered with a bomber jacket, or a casual button down shirt accessorized with sunglasses and a nice watch.
Since boat shoes are traditionally made of leather they look a tiny bit sharper than sneakers. Yes, there are fabric options too but they are not used as much
Bonus points if you cuff up the chinos to show off those ankles
When it comes to colours, bold is fun here too. But darker or neutral colours will be more versatile and easier to match with a lit more chinos
#3: Loafers With Chinos
Amongst the entire list of shoes mentioned here, loafers are the only shoes that you can wear anytime with chinos and look polished (might I say dapper too)
For casual situations, suede loafers with no-show socks and shirt are perfect for a summer day. And if heading out at night, wear the same pair of loafers with some bold socks and a jacket (or tuck that shirt in). Party ready within minutes, yo
Basically the rule of thumb with socks is this – no-show socks for casual and socks for semi-formal events. Stick to this rule and you will always make the right choices
#4: Monk Straps With Chinos
If you would ask me to pick one shoe for all semi-formal events in my life I’d go for straps
This is because the overall aesthetic of monk strap shoes is so smart, that they just look great with chinos and a shirt: neither too dressy, nor too casual.
And the usage of monk straps with chinos is not limited to just shirts – you can wear polos, sweaters, and in some cases (full sleeved) henly shirts too. The only type of upper wear that should be avoided are t-shirts
#5: Oxfords / Derbys With Chinos
Where monk straps are useful to dress up chinos, oxfords or derbys take it one notch higher
Lace-up shoes like oxfords or derbys are the most formal you can get with a pair of chinos. Of course, the shoe features can be accordingly used for different looks
For example: medium to light brown wingtips will work very well for smart-casual occasions, whereas dark oxfords or derbys (preferably with minimal brogueing) are a good choice to wear for a semi-formal event
While wearing laced shoes with chinos: keep in mind that suede is more casual than leather, and oxfords in dark colours are dressier than derbys
#6: Boots With Chinos
I used to think that boots are meant only for the winter, but they can be worn all through the year.
The trick is to choose the right kind of boots depending on the weather. Chukkas and Chelsea Boots will pair really well with chinos in the summer. Both of these boot styles are minimal and they work for casual as well as semi-formal occasions.
On the other hand, dress boots can be worn with the more sturdier chinos in the winter. If you wanted to dress up your chinos in the winter, such boots would be your best bet
Shoes You Should Avoid Wearing With Chinos
Remember when I said almost all shoes go with chinos?
Yeah, we’ve now reached the “almost” part
The below shoe styles are not a great match for chinos. They are acceptable, sure, but that’s about it. You’d be better off choosing either of the shoes that were listed above
#1: Sandals
Sandals shouldn’t really be worn with any kind of pants
Okay, you can wear them if you’re headed to the beach or the pool – and even to those places, a pair of shorts (instead of chinos?!) is a better option anyway
Trust me and skip those sandals. Chinos give off a smart relaxed vibe, wearing sandals with chinos makes it sloppy
#2: Sports Shoes
Sports shoes.
Running Shoes.
Trainers.
For the purpose of this point, they’re all the same. And none of them should be worn with chinos.
That’s because chinos are casual pants and not sporty pants, so wearing athletic shoes with them will look off. For all your sporty needs, go for joggers instead. They are right at home with such shoes
There are some sneakers that look like trainers. These should be okay to wear with chinos, as long as they are in neutral / dark shades
Chinos, Shoes And Socks
Socks are an awesome way to take those chino-shoe combinations to the next level
While no-show socks are great with for the summer months, it depends on what you’re comfortable with
Some chinos ride up to show a good part of the leg when seated, like a pair of dress pants would. With such chinos, I avoid wearing no-show socks simply because I don’t like it.
When it comes to general sock rules, they’re pretty much the same as with any other pants or shoes. You can go bold with colours or patterns, or stay classic with neutral and plain socks – whatever suits you!
I have an article on pairing socks with formal shoes. Check it out if you need some ideas.
New Favourite Pants?
With the number of shoe pairing possibilities with chinos, they might just topple the denim throne and become your new favourite pants (or are they already?)
If you haven’t given chinos a try yet, you should. I promise, you will not be disappointed 🙂
Or if you’re already a chino yoda, awesome! Bow down to you, I do 😀
If there’s something I missed, or if you have any questions – let me know!
