Chino Shorts – Five Plus One

Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.


While I try to wear jeans whenever possible, sometimes a pair of shorts is just what the day calls for, and when those days come my go-to is chino shorts. Easy to dress down or wear to a preppy, Sunday brunch, chino shorts are an incredibly versatile style. We’ve talked about them before, but there are some great, new options out there that deserve highlighting.

1) Japan Blue: 8Oz. Linen Denim Knee Shorts in Cream

Chino-Shorts---Five-Plus-One 1) Japan Blue: 8Oz. Linen Denim Knee Shorts in Cream

Japan Blue might be best known for their selvedge, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know their way around a pair of chino shorts. These 8Oz. Linen Denim Knee Shorts are made in Japan from an 85%/15% cotton/linen blend and feature diagonal front pockets, welted back pockets, a custom brass zipper, and a resin button. If you don’t wanna give up denim entirely, these are a great option.

Available for $135 from Blue Owl.

2) J. Crew: 7″ Stretch Chino Shorts

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J.Crew makes some great, and fairly affordable, basics. Their 7″ Stretch Chino Shorts have everything you need from a pair of chino shorts: a solid pattern, slanted front pockets, welted rear pockets, and a wide range of colorways. These shorts are made of a cotton/elastane blend, ensuring you have the comfort of cotton with the durability and stretch of elastane.

Available for $70 from J.Crew.

3) Uniqlo: Chino Shorts

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If you need some new Chino Shorts and want the best bang for your buck, then Uniqlo is the obvious choice. They offer 100% cotton chino shorts with all the classic details you’d expect, plus the addition of an internal drawstring waistband to improve the fit. Available in six colors and for only $30/pair, these are a great way to expand your spring/summer wardrobe.

Available for $30 from Uniqlo.

4) NN07: Crown Chino Shorts

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If you are looking to spend a bit more on a pair of chino shorts then NN07’s Crown shorts are a great option. They have a great pattern, 97%/3% cotton/elastane blend fabric, and a big bump in quality of both fabric and construction over many of the entry level brands on this list. These shorts come in four great hues, making them an easy choice to fill in any gap in your current shorts rotation.

Available for $109 from End.

5) Alex Mill: Mercer Straight-Leg Cotton-Blend Twill Chino Shorts

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Alex Mill’s Mercer Straight-Leg Cotton-Blend Twill Chino Shorts are another excellent mid-tier option for chino shorts. While they only come in navy and green colorways, these 98%/2% cotton/elastane shorts are a big upgrade over cheaper offerings. They have solid construction and materials, and a slightly more embellished pattern than other shorts on this list with their flapped back pocket and tabbed wasted.

Available for $95 from Mr. Porter.

Plus One – Warehouse: 13oz. Nep Denim Chino Shorts

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While denim shorts are far from a rarity, I really appreciate Warehouse kicking things up a notch with the 13oz. Nep Denim Chino Shorts. Featuring a beautiful, 13oz. denim with tops of irregularities throughout, these short feature that classic, chino look. They’re made in a Japan and are finished with a natural nut buttons button-fly, a smell coin pocket, lined waistband, and thin belt loops. If you only want one pair of shorts that you can break in like raws, these are the way to go.

Available for $171 from Corlection.