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Who makes the best chinos

Xopher

A-List Customer
Messages
434
Location
Pennsylvania
Who makes the best Officers Chinos?

I am looking for a pair, in possibility multiple colors and I’d like some suggestions of your favorites
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
I hear good things about both of those. Bill's are expensive to buy from here as they need to be imported - add shipping, add taxes, add weak pound.....

In the past, I've bought Kay Canvas US Army WW2 chino repops from Soldier of Fortune in Wales - https://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/us-summer-service-trousers-chinos-by-kay-canvas.html

WPG would be a good US equivalent; I've also bought from them in the past and been pleased:
https://www.whatpriceglory.com/products/2400-us-khaki-cotton-summer-trousers-enlisted/

Repro milspec is a great source of vintage-style trousers as they mirrored the contemporary civilian cuts well. Only drawback is you are limited to the milspec colours. That being so, my next step this Summer will be to pick up four pairs of the SoF khakis, and a few of these:

1675171197060.png


There are plenty of commercial reproducers out there do some very good trousers in this style, though you're into GBP100-150 odds for those. YMMV, but I've yet to encounter a pair I thought represented a gain in quality commensurate with the rise in price. If you have a little patience and access to a washing machine you can use the dye in, that's the way to go imo. When I get around to doing this, I will try to remember to put up a thread about it.
 

bn1966

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,108
Location
UK
I get mine from Pike Brothers in Germany, lots of options and great quality….
 

Rudie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,069
Location
Berlin
I find the Buzz Rickson's 1942 version best. My oldest pair is 13 years old and finally falling apart.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
Ralph Lauren do a repro in olive, but they want £220. For that you can get exactly what you want, made to measure, from a good tailor. https://www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/chino-trouser-263832.html

Eeps, those look very low in the waist! Agreed, though - for that money, a tailor would be a better option.

Cathcart did some a few years ago, I have a pair, which are really nice, around that price. Great, 'high' / natural waist, wide leg. Lovely stuff. Not in the current collection, but I'm sure they'll come round again.

I get mine from Pike Brothers in Germany, lots of options and great quality….

I'd like to try Pikes. THey seem to have a mix of more modern and more vintage cuts - which are the high waisted models? I find it hard to figure out on the website.


I find the Buzz Rickson's 1942 version best. My oldest pair is 13 years old and finally falling apart.


Buzz's always looked good, though I've never see a pair on sale above a 34" waist, so they've never been an option for me.
 

bn1966

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,108
Location
UK
Eeps, those look very low in the waist! Agreed, though - for that money, a tailor would be a better option.

Cathcart did some a few years ago, I have a pair, which are really nice, around that price. Great, 'high' / natural waist, wide leg. Lovely stuff. Not in the current collection, but I'm sure they'll come round again.



I'd like to try Pikes. THey seem to have a mix of more modern and more vintage cuts - which are the high waisted models? I find it hard to figure out on the website.





Buzz's always looked good, though I've never see a pair on sale above a 34" waist, so they've never been an option for me.
Hi Edward,

Top right hand corner on the Pike Bros site pages in ‘shop’ gives the option of English Language and then below products there should be info about weight & fit etc.

https://www.pikebrothers.com/en/Shop-Online/Pants/Cloth/

They have recently upgraded the site which seems to work well. Not had a duff product from them ever..highly rated, in fact expecting a Chambray shirt from them today. Fast shipping and good customer service too…
 

Rudie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,069
Location
Berlin
Buzz's always looked good, though I've never see a pair on sale above a 34" waist, so they've never been an option for me.
I bought mine at a steep discount from Rakuten. It's a bit of a hassle as you need to go through a buying service, but it came out much cheaper than buying from BR Europe.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
I bought mine at a steep discount from Rakuten. It's a bit of a hassle as you need to go through a buying service, but it came out much cheaper than buying from BR Europe.


Yes, it seems to be that so many Japanese things are very significantly more expensive on this side of the world. I dream of getting to Tokyo one day and finding everything seems really cheap by comparison. I may be overly optimisitic!
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
Hi Edward,

Top right hand corner on the Pike Bros site pages in ‘shop’ gives the option of English Language and then below products there should be info about weight & fit etc.

https://www.pikebrothers.com/en/Shop-Online/Pants/Cloth/

They have recently upgraded the site which seems to work well. Not had a duff product from them ever..highly rated, in fact expecting a Chambray shirt from them today. Fast shipping and good customer service too…

Ah! Thanks. Will look into that. If I can get the right trouser fit, I'm a little tempted by their workwear-style suits.
 

Jasonissm

Practically Family
Messages
589
Buzz Ricksons is my favourite, very affordable and great quality. Buy direct from Japan from stores that ship internationally like Hinoya or Bears (free shipping), got 2 pairs for $140 from local Australian retailer, and another pair for $70 shipped from Japan.

Hinoya (reasonable international shipping rates)
1942 (widest/straightest/metal repro buttons): https://hinoya.shop/en/products/m43036?_pos=2&_sid=7c8316384&_ss=r
1945(straight, metal repro buttons): https://hinoya.shop/en/products/m43035?_pos=3&_sid=7c8316384&_ss=r
Original Spec (slim, mid rise, zip fly): https://hinoya.shop/en/products/br40025a?_pos=1&_sid=7c8316384&_ss=r

Bears (free international shipping over 15,000 yen which these qualify for)
Original Spec: https://bears-tokyo.myshopify.com/products/buzz-ricksons-br40025a-original-spec-chino
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
Revival vintage do a 1940's style chinos for £68. I came across them by chance.

https://revivalvintage.co.uk/products/revival-1940s-fishtail-back-chino-cotton-trousers

Hopefully they'll introduce other colours in future. I like the traditional khaki, but there's a lot to be said for machine-washable, cotton trousers in a range of colours. Could be tempted into trying the dye on a pair of these... IT's be great if they did their 50s cut trousers in a range of colours in this cotton as well. I have a pair of those that are great, though they're synthetic. I've worn them a lot in the eight or nine months I've had them, great cut / pattern.
 

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