Men’s pants shouldn’t be limited to jeans. To maintain style versatility, you must keep other styles of pants inside your wardrobe.
While considering new options for your wardrobe, you may need help choosing between chinos and khakis. At first glance, both options may appear very similar. Because of that, you may struggle to see how one option could be better for your wardrobe than the other.
Of course, khakis and chinos are not completely the same. There are significant differences between them that could help determine their fit in your wardrobe.
Learn more about the essential differences between chinos and khaki pants by continuing below.
Color Variety
The most obvious difference between chinos and khakis is color variety.
Chinos offer remarkable variety in terms of color options. Available colors for chinos include black, blue, brown, gray, and white, and those are just the more popular picks. You should be able to mix and match easily with chinos.
Khakis are available in one color. However, you can find that signature color in different shades these days. If you prefer darker or lighter khakis, you will have plenty of options to choose from.
Although chinos are available in more colors, shade variety has become a stronger point for khakis. Your color choices aren’t limited if you prefer wearing khakis over other pants. They can still serve as versatile additions to your wardrobe.
Material Quality
The next factor to keep in mind when choosing between khakis and chinos is material quality. Both chinos and khakis are typically made from the same material, which is cotton twill. Most people already know what cotton is all about, but twill is an interesting addition.
For those unaware, twill is not actually a type of clothing material. Instead, it’s a particular way of weaving fabric. According to Sewport, twill weaving creates diagonal patterns in clothing.
Clothing companies use twill weaving because it provides additional durability. Chinos and khakis made from cotton twill can hold up well to wear and tear because of their material composition.
You may also like cotton twill because it’s easy to clean. Pants made from the aforementioned material are machine washable, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning them.
While khakis and chinos are made from cotton twill, they still differ in terms of material quality. The difference is noticeable when you examine the thickness. Because khakis are thicker than chinos, you can expect them to last longer. They are the better options for men looking for new pants to wear regularly.
Pleat Presence
Upon taking a closer look at khakis and chinos, you may also notice that one pair has a more defined appearance. That’s likely because you’re noticing the presence of pleats.
According to MasterClass, pleats are folds in fabrics that can be used to alter the appearance of clothing. They are specifically used to make the profile presented by pants more prominent. Beyond that, tailors can also use pleats to make pants easier to wear.
Pleats are only found in khakis. If you’re looking for pants with those features, you should pick up khakis the next time you go shopping.
Style Versatility
Finally, chinos and khakis differ from each other when it comes to how versatile they are.
Generally speaking, chinos are better suited for formal events. Finding articles of clothing to pair with chinos can be more challenging because they lean towards a more formal look by default.
In contrast, khakis are more versatile. You can wear them for different occasions without feeling over or underdressed. They can also work easily with various items in your wardrobe.
Chinos and khakis feature distinct differences. Now that you understand those dissimilarities, you can decide which pants you need to get.