What Dress Shoes and Sneakers to Wear with Chinos

Every man has a pair of chinos lying around in their wardrobe somewhere.

Nevertheless, many are clueless about the combination potential their simple chinos can offer.

We live in a time where we're constantly bombarded by ads, attempting to seduce us into spending our money on clothing items we don't necessarily need. 

That's why today,  we'll show you how to make good use of the clothes you already own. You'll be surprised at how much versatility and style are hidden within your simple pair of chinos.

What are Chinos?

Unless you're a 100% denim guy, you most likely already own a pair of chinos. The classic cotton pants are woven in a twill weave and are traditionally dyed either pale green, khaki, or beige. Nowadays, you can find them in a variety of colors, including grey, navy, and black. Moreover, they are known for their lightweight and tapered silhouette (narrow as they lower on the legs), which makes them a smarter option than jeans.

What Chinos are Best?

This really depends on the kind of style you're striving for. For example, if it's a casual outfit you're going for, then khaki or pale green chinos will totally do. On the other, smart casual would require neutral colors, such as navy, grey or black. 

Sneakers

Sneakers are almost always a good choice, especially with chinos. We recommend you stick with white or black sneakers, as these are the most versatile colors. For a casual look, you can simply combine your chinos with a sweatshirt or a T-shirt and combine it with a jacket on top. If smart casual is what you're going for, you can swap the T-shirt for a shirt and a blazer. It is important to note, that your sneakers should be as minimalistic and clean as possible for this style, especially if you're planning to wear this to work.

Boots

Perfect for this coming winter, boots are a stylish and cozy combo with your chinos. Chelsea boots are ideal for a casual yet polished outfit. On the other hand, if you desire something more sophisticated then you may want to opt for chukka boots. Suede chukkas have a more relaxed and cozy appearance, while leather chukkas are the more formal option.

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Loafers

Looking for a polished, yet relaxed look? Try out combining your loafers with chinos. Loafers are a bit of a hybrid and lie somewhere between formal and casual.  That means, depending on the occasion, you can simply adapt the upper part of the outfit to the dress code, maintain the chinos and combine them with your loafer.  We suggest you select leather or suede loafers, as these are acceptable for both formal and informal events.

Chinos and Dress Shoes

Guess what? Chinos also make a snazzy smart casual outfit, if combined with a pair of dress shoes. You may want to adjust the color of your dress shoes and pants to the occasion, as darker colors tend to be more appropriate for formal events, while lighter colors are considered to be more casual. Overall, you can't go wrong with chinos and brown shoes, so we suggest you stick to that color and simply adjust the shade.

Oxfords

Oxfords will offer you a great deal of formality and will dress up your chinos. The darker the shoes, the more suitable it is for a formal setting.  Not to mention, darker oxfords will be easier to combine than lighter ones, so you may want to stick to dark brown oxfords. Avoid black oxfords, unless it's a formal setting, such as a wedding, a business setting, a funeral, or an evening event.

Derby

Derby shoes are a more casual version of dress shoes and make a good combo with chinos. If you're looking for a smart casual office outfit, then you're doing the right thing with chinos and dress shoes.  To add more personality to your outfit you can combine your chinos with a pair of brogue derby shoes or suede derby shoes. For a formal appearance, we advise you to go for a light-colored pair of chinos and a dark pair of derby shoes, as this will create a nice contrast.