Since the military decided durable cotton twill was an ideal option for their uniforms, the chino has been a dependable supporting piece of kit for men’s wardrobes the world over. Renowned for its relaxed, straight-legged silhouette, the chino now has a legacy of its own.

WHAT ARE CHINOS?

Renowned for their relaxed, straight-legged silhouettes, men’s chinos now has a legacy of their own. Historically worn in the heat of Vietnam, this staple has since enjoyed several innovations: a leg crease, a dry hand feel, a thicker twill weave, slimmer legs and higher rises, all of which have seen the chino transition from uniform to formal-only to casual in the span of a few decades. Stretch in the fabric also means they tend to fit well and last longer. Innovation? Absolutely.

Of course. The improvements detailed above make today’s chino a great partner for a business casual shirt and an unstructured smart jacket. If you want a more classic look, black chinos are a great alternative to tailored trousers, and will look just as smart when paired with a white Oxford and chunky loafers. Working from home these days? Wearing yours with a knitted polo or boxier-fit shirt should hit the right spot. If you’re not sure about styling your chinos for your day-to-day, our experts in our stores will gladly show you your options at a one-to-one styling appointment.

Got plans to spend the whole of Saturday out and about in town, or maybe a Sunday spent kicking about closer to home? The versatility of men’s chinos means they’ll likely work no matter where you’re headed. Brighten it up by pairing a dusty pink pair with a neutral knitted tee, or go for classic khaki with a merino crew neck if the temperature drops. Finish with a pair of chunky trainers, or go for a casual loafer if you’re heading to a nice dinner.

The chino was intended for summer heat and easy wear. Cotton is lightweight and breathes well, and the way chinos are constructed means they’re lighter than denim and have more give than a pair of formal trousers. They’ll look fresh with trainers or loafers, and you can try brogues or anything with a round toecap if you want to elevate your look a little. Still too hot? Try chino shorts. And if you need some tips on how to style them, read our guide on how to wear chino shorts.

Our stretch chinos are cut to a slim flattering fit and crafted from organic cotton, with added stretch for a roomier feel. Great for smart-casual looks or more relaxed settings, they’re a versatile style that looks just as good with an Oxford shirt as they do with a crew neck.

Our worker chinos are slightly more laid back – with an elasticated waistband and roomier at the seat, these are your go-to weekend chinos that will see you through all your out-of-office plans.

Want to find out how to wear other trouser styles? Read our guide to men’s trousers.

Chris, who works in finance, is also in the office 5 days a week. After his company launched post-pandemic, they pushed for colleagues to collaborate in person. “It felt imperative that everyone should be together to problem solve and bounce ideas off one another,” he explains. “We don’t have an official policy, so if you want to work from home you can, but everyone seems to enjoy the collaborative atmosphere we have built.”

As for workwear, suits aren’t compulsory at Chris’ firm either – but he prefers them. “I wear them almost every day, with the exception being Friday if I have plans in the evening,” he says. “Though I enjoy wearing suits, it also comes down to not having to think too much about what I am going to wear for the day, whilst knowing that I will be presentable for any occasion the day could throw at me.”

Colour and style-wise, Nick favours dark, traditional suits, as does Chris. “I think they hold up better when wearing every day, he says. “If I like the quality of something, like a jumper, I tend to buy a few of the same thing. I’ve always worn a navy suit, so last year I tried a custom one from Moss and it was worth it. It’s in line with what I like but fits perfectly, the fabric is a lot nicer than my others and I prefer the adjuster details on the trousers.” When it comes to ties, however, they seem to have dropped off the workwear list. “I rarely wear one,” Chris admits, and Nick agrees. Instead, open collars shirts or crew neck jumpers are the preferred choice, with t-shirts as an alternative for warmer weather. 

Josie, who styled both men on the shoot, took into consideration their everyday workwear and chose pieces that would offer comfort, versatility and refinement. “As Nick was looking for a wardrobe refresh with classic staples, I opted for items such as the navy performance suit and an Oxford shirt, season-less pieces that offer longevity,” she said. “As for Chris, he was looking for quality product in a tailored fit. I went for our Italian sage flannel and navy trench, pieces he may not have necessarily picked out for himself but are great investment items, particularly the the suit – the green tone is subtle which means it can easily be styled for work.”

It seems that many men still feel a suit just makes sense if you’re in the office on a daily basis. Though some companies have chosen to go down the smart-casual route, suiting is still the number one option for various reasons. For Nick, it’s about consistency – “Uniformity within the workplace makes things less stressful,” he says. “I find it easier when there is a dress code – some guidance always helps.” For Chris, it gets him in the zone, admitting that “having a routine helps me start the day in a more productive way.”

Regardless of the reasoning, it’s clear that suits are here to stay – update your workwear wardrobe with our collection of season-less suit styles.

You’ve heard the saying ‘dress for the job you want’? Well, what about how that job would want you to dress?

In other words: if you’re going for an interview, you want your interviewer to picture you doing the job. What you wear needs to show you’re serious about the role but also that you’re a good fit for the company culture – a three-piece suit is pretty much mandatory for a City job, but wear one to a creative agency and they might mistake you for their accountant.

That said, great tailoring does wonders for your confidence. We surveyed British men and over half said they felt most professional and confident in a suit at work. It follows, then, that making an effort to dress smartly will impress your interviewer and also give you a boost of confidence when it matters. Win-win.

So, back to the question in hand: what to wear to an interview? Our advice is to tailor your outfit to the kind of company that’s interviewing you. Here’s our take on what to wear for four types of interview: corporate, agency, video, and meet the team.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A CORPORATE INTERVIEW

The first rule of the corporate world? Wear a suit. If you’re interviewing for a role in finance, law or another hierarchal private sector company, you’re going to need to bring out your tailoring A-game.

The expectation will be for you to dress conservatively, so a three-piece suit is a smart move. Don’t just dig out your old navy one though – you should step it up a little if you want to make a memorable impression with what to wear for an interview.

Black is universally accepted as businesswear as well as universally flattering. You can get away with a subtle pattern, but sometimes it’s good to stay classic like this black suit. You’ll exude confidence, look put together and won’t have to worry about looking out of place.

If you have decided on a patterned suit, you’ll need to show a bit of restraint with the rest of your outfit. This is not the time or the place for flashy cufflinks. A pocket square probably isn’t needed either but if you really want one, stick to plain white.

As for the tie? Match it up with your suit – a black oxford silk tie will feel classic and smart. Or, simply go without. Many places aren’t particular about ties anymore as long as you’re wearing a suit, and you can still look smart without one (though do your research on the company to check).

WHAT TO WEAR FOR AN AGENCY INTERVIEW

If you’re headed to an agency interview, chances are you’re still going to want to wear a suit. This is the world of 9-5 (perhaps a bit more), and office uniforms that haven’t quite got the business-casual memo yet.

So yes, a suit is a safe bet, but you don’t need to be quite as formal as you would in a corporate environment.

Blended with stretch fabric, the ink check suit is great for moving around the city and keeping you comfortable, too. And in our books, comfort equals confidence and confidence equals a successful interview.

Keep the rest of your outfit simple: an open-necked shirt is more relaxed than a buttoned-up shirt-and-tie combo. A navy zip polo crafted from soft merino wool looks polished and professional, while the addition of a stretch dials up the comfort.

Shoe-wise, a pair of chunky brown loafers will set this suit off nicely. Make sure to give them a good buff too.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A VIDEO INTERVIEW

Video interviews give you the opportunity to turn down the formal even more. In fact, you can pretty much go full business-casual if you like, depending on what role you’re going for.

Here’s where your suit starts to look a little overdressed, but might still be expected to err on the side of formal. The happy medium? Tailored separates in more casual fabrics and a little bit of colour to stand out from the crowd.

Our copper Hoxton has a more relaxed feel but still looks smart, so the overall effect is pulled-together. In an on-trend copper colour, it’s also crafted from a textured cotton blend which offers a bit of interest to the look. Combined with a oatmeal tee and neutral chinos, the result is a cohesive tonal outfit that looks just as good in real life as it does on camera.

The result? Smart, but at ease. Exactly the vibe you’re going for.

WHAT TO WEAR TO MEET THE TEAM

Once you’ve secured your position, meeting the team is a great way to get a feel for the company culture and, importantly, how they dress for work.

Though smart-casual will most likely be the best bet, jeans just aren’t going to cut it – you’re going to have to up the ante a bit.

Drop the tailored jacket and try something a bit more relaxed – our off-white cord overshirt is a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down depending on the setting or situation. Wear it open with a boxy white tee for your welcome lunch, or button it up to scale up the smart for a one-to-one with your new boss.

No creative work-look is complete without a pair of trainers, but don’t just throw on any old pair. Give your interview the respect it deserves with a suede pair of chunky trainers. Still trainers, but trainers that feel a bit more elevated and are finished with a tonal rubber sole.

(New) job done.