Proportions are what most men get wrong with chinos, and the fit is usually the culprit before anything else. Too wide through the thigh and they read as sloppy regardless of how good the fabric is. Too aggressively tapered and you start looking like you borrowed them from someone younger. The taper that actually works sits somewhere more considered, following the leg without gripping it, finishing at the ankle in a way that works with both a clean trainer and a leather loafer.

We have been looking specifically at cuts that hit this balance rather than just labelling themselves slim and hoping for the best. Fabric matters here too. A chino that bags out at the knee after an hour of wearing defeats the whole purpose. The pairs in here hold their shape, move well, and look as good at the end of the day as the beginning. Get the proportions right and chinos become one of the hardest working things you own.