How Do We Feel about Black Chinos?

J. Cogburn · Mar 24, 2011

They seem to be pretty trendy these days. Anything wrong with black chinos and a white shirt? Black chinos and a black shirt? That seems to be about all you can do with black chinos. So I guess the reall question is how do we feel about black/black and black/white looks?

And for the sake of argument, let's posit that our skin tone works with black and that we're in "hip" urban environments where black is the rule and not the exception. Let's also posit (not that we should have to, but you never know) that this look isn't for the office - even a casual office.

southbound35 · Mar 24, 2011

Originally Posted by J. Cogburn

They seem to be pretty trendy these days. Anything wrong with black chinos and a white shirt? Black chinos and a black shirt? That seems to be about all you can do with black chinos. So I guess the reall question is how do we feel about black/black and black/white looks?

And for the sake of argument, let's posit that our skin tone works with black and that we're in "hip" urban environments where black is the rule and not the exception. Let's also posit (not that we should have to, but you never know) that this look isn't for the office - even a casual office.

My disdain for black trousers not withstanding, I don't like cotton chinos in dark colors. Even washing in cold/hanging to dry, dark chinos don't seem to hold their color. I don't like the look of faded black, navy, chocoate, dark olive, etc.

My disdain for black trousers withstanding, the black pant/white shirt look looks like a waiter who has taken off his tie after work.

a tailor · Mar 24, 2011

black trousers are worn by, waiters, buss boys, washroom attendants, and security guards.
and not by gentle men.

Aldehyde · Mar 24, 2011

We do not like them.

Lightbringer · Mar 24, 2011

I'm not a fan.

You might, of course, wear them in some sort of streetwear fashion but they have no real place as items of classical menswear. They make you look like a waiter if worn with a shirt.

J. Cogburn · Mar 24, 2011

Originally Posted by a tailor

black trousers are worn by, waiters, buss boys, washroom attendants, and security guards.
and not by gentle men.

... and by, apparently, pretty much everybody in Soho last weekend while I was staying at the Soho Grand. Good god - I was the only man wearing any color! Felt like a farmer.

J. Cogburn · Mar 24, 2011

Originally Posted by Lightbringer

I'm not a fan.

You might, of course, wear them in some sort of streetwear fashion but they have no real place as items of classical menswear. They make you look like a waiter if worn with a shirt.

So the trick is to wear black chinos without a shirt? I'll give that a try ....

zalb916 · Mar 24, 2011

Originally Posted by J. Cogburn

... and by, apparently, pretty much everybody in Soho last weekend while I was staying at the Soho Grand. Good god - I was the only man wearing any color! Felt like a farmer.

Soho is about the last place I'd imagine people wearing black chinos.

Lightbringer · Mar 24, 2011

Originally Posted by J. Cogburn

So the trick is to wear black chinos without a shirt? I'll give that a try ....

I mean, perhaps a t-shirt. But attempting to hedge it into the world of classical menswear is courting disaster

Klobber · Mar 24, 2011

Given it is fairly standard to wear a darker blazer / sportcoat than pants, black chinos or black dress pants pretty much close all options. Mind you that does not stop numerous people donning black chinos and lighter colored shirts / blazers. Black is a hard color, and needs to be cut up with other colors or stripes.

I do not mind wearing black jeans - although few if any jeans I see are jet black, usually black in jean context means off - charcoal.

acridsheep · Mar 24, 2011

Slightly nauseous, with clammy hands.

Harold falcon · Mar 24, 2011

Hell no.

JayJay · Mar 24, 2011

No, definitely no.

cptjeff · Mar 24, 2011

Originally Posted by Klobber

Given it is fairly standard to wear a darker blazer / sportcoat than pants, black chinos or black dress pants pretty much close all options. Mind you that does not stop numerous people donning black chinos and lighter colored shirts / blazers. Black is a hard color, and needs to be cut up with other colors or stripes.

I do not mind wearing black jeans - although few if any jeans I see are jet black, usually black in jean context means off - charcoal.

I've seen jet black jeans. They don't stay that way.

And the result can be wonderful.

Black chinos? I don't mind dark chinos. I'm odd here in that regard. But I really can't see a use for black ones, at least in a purely MC context. A pair in a nice slimish cut, gray ringer tee, or a polo with some color and incorporating gray could work nicely. But those outfits, at least IMO, would work better with the aforementioned beat up, formerly black jeans.

bringusingoodale · Mar 24, 2011

I suppose if you are young and at some art gallery opening, gig, bar or wherever the crowd will probably be wearing all kinds of "trends" so no one will give a damn about your black chinos.

That said, bartenders and waiters do usually dress in all black. This is enough for me to avoid dark colors in general when dining.

How Do We Feel about Black Chinos?

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