The Obtainer - 10/12/22, Wednesday
↦ Who Makes the Best Relaxed Chinos?
Wednesday, October 12th Edition
It kind of feels like chinos just keep getting bigger and bigger, but they’ve always been a relaxed pant. Maybe we’re just ready for them to be even more easygoing. Perhaps there’s a lesson in there for all of us.
- Leon Hedgepeth, Shopping Editor ⋯ @leonhedgepeth
Good/Better/Best
Relaxed Chinos
Sometimes in life, we have to look back to go forward—this is definitely true to cycles in fashion. During an interview last year Tyler, The Creator went on a tangent about how everything comes from a reference point no matter what you’re doing or creating, which I found to be incredibly insightful. About two months ago, J.Crew dropped their giant-fit chino, which sold out and is now only available through pre-order in select sizes. They pulled from their ’90s archive to execute an incredibly popular chino for today. To take it a step further, New York-based vintage dealer Wooden Sleepers has been selling second-hand military-issued chinos that your favorite brands have been referencing to make their relaxed-fitting chinos. Long story short, everything is made from a reference, and these pants are no different.
I’m sure anyone reading this already has a pair of chinos in their closet for family gatherings, date nights and the hybrid work schedule of having to go into the office a few times a week. Maybe it’s time you refresh your chinos with a more relaxed and mature-fitting pair. Long rise, room in the thigh area and a taper or straight fit hitting at the ankle—all of this checks the boxes for a great fit today. Plus, they’re easy to move in, breathable and look great with an unstructured blazer. There are a lot of good brands making quality relaxed-fitting chinos that cover the entire gamut of price points. Depending on how often and where you'll be wearing them, however, how much you decide to spend is up to you. We're here to help point you to the ones worth your money.
An affordable price and available in a wide range of sizes
Interior waistband curtain with binding to help ease movements and overall comfort
Generic buttons which may need to be reinforced after a few wears
Full thigh and a high-rise, so this will fit very relaxed—for a more tailored fit, we suggest sizing down
Classic relaxed-fit chino,$89.50 / $58.18 (w/code SHOPEARLY) by J.Crew
Full through the entire leg with a high-rise and taper at the ankle, so these will look tailored and can be worn with suits
Pigment-dyed, so each pant will be unique and have a lived-in feel from the first wear
A coin pocket that’s a signature for the brand (but you can’t use it)
The waist runs slightly big, but adjustable tabs allow you to tighten
Flat-front chino in vintage twill,$165 by Alex Mill
Inspired by military-sourced vintage chinos
They use corozo buttons and the pants are garment-dyed for a rich color, which helps with fading more beautifully
Small artworks on the interior and exterior of the pant
The coin pocket is functional
George chino, $290 by Geoff McFetridge x Norse Projects
Stuff We Swear by
Alder’s Hydrating Oil
Over the past few years, it seems like men are starting to take better care of themselves, whether mentally, emotionally or physically—I remember when guys would be labeled “high maintenance” if they put pomade in their hair. Thankfully, we men have moved past that narrow thinking. We should be taking care of ourselves just like women do, especially our skin. I cleanse my face every night before bed and moisturize immediately after and then again whenever I wake up. One crucial step missing in my routine was adding a hydrating oil to keep all the hydration locked in and to prevent dry, flaky skin. Especially as we go into the colder, drier months.
I recently picked up this hydrating oil from Alder New York, a queer and woman-owned independent vegan skincare line created by Nina Zilka and David Krause. With science-backed ingredients and time-tested plant extracts, each of their products leaves your skin blemish-free, feeling healthy and replenished. This phyto oil moisturizes your skin immediately and is formulated to smooth, firm and tone all at once. It has the scent of a high-end spa, with the natural aroma of rosemary, citrus and cedarwood from pure essential oils.
Two things I discovered after using this oil: A little goes a long way—I only needed one, maybe two pumps to cover my whole face and neck. And while I thought I’d just use it at night, I’m now also applying this in the morning. The marula and jojoba oils are rich with antioxidants like omegas 6 and 9 that reduce the appearance of fine lines. The addition of Abyssinian oil, I’m told, helps reduce inflammation and condition skin. I can confirm that your face feels calm, hydrated and protected from the elements after using.Plus, the one-ounce bottle is ideal for travel—which is good because I’m not going anywhere without it. This is something that has become a nonnegotiable in my grooming closet. Since you only get one face, you might as well take care of it and keep it healthy for as long as possible, right?
Hydrating oil, $29.99 by Alder New York
The sales and discounts our team is currently watching.
This high-end body oil is produced from pure Nordic oils with strong antioxidant properties to moisturize, soothe and rejuvenate the skin.
$65 / $39 by Woods Copenhagen
This set from Canada’s Peregrine Supply Co. includes everything you need to keep your face healthy whenever traveling. It’s also a great way to try their high-effective products.
$50 / $32 by Peregrine Supply Co.
Made from shatterproof, BPA-free plastic and equipped with a sleek black bamboo handle, this 10-cup water filter pitcher uses sustainably-harvested coconut charcoal to remove any stray taste, odor or contaminants.
$40 / $28 by Soma
A winter beanie to keep your head toasty for cooler temps. Made in Peru, the cap is designed to stretch and recover no matter if it's worn with one or two cuffs.
$65 / $50 by 3Sixteen
These jeans are cut and sewn from 12.25oz. selvedge denim from Japan’s Kuroki Mills. So getting them under $200 is a huge deal.
$235 / $165 by imogene + willie
Snow Peak repurposed fabric from their previous season to create this recycled hoodie in a dreamy oatmeal colorway that has a heft to it.
$180 / $126 by Snow Peak
The three best stories from around the web.
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The seventh floor of the retailer’s landmark flagship has been completely transformed with 15 designer shop-in-shops and the addition of 23 new brands to the store.”
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Houdini aims to take natural design one step further by combining it with state-of-the-art human technology to lessen the environmental impact of garment production—that’s what ‘Forward to Nature’ is all about.”
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From the very first episode of ‘Talking Watches’ to the pandemonium that was MoonSwatch—plus our special visit to the workshop of one Phllip Dufour, and the beautiful series ‘The Long Return’–there’s a lot to dig into.”
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Don't chase fashion. Stay true to your style.
September 22