When I was a little boy and I had to dress up for “pretty” events, my parents would always throw me a pair of khaki pants. They know what they’re doing: khaki chinos are the MVP of your wardrobe, perfect for lavish dinners, milestone celebrations, the office with relaxed post-pandemic dress codes, or just a day out. There was no such office to begin with. Chinos are incredibly versatile – you can pair them with a crisp, stain-free white T-shirt, a cozy sweater or a “go-anywhere” blue shirt to freshen up your day.
I’ve owned enough pants to fill an entire wardrobe over my lifetime, but the chinos I’ve been wearing since spring are Buck Mason’s Full-Saddle pants. Part of Buck Mason’s wider line of “full saddle” trousers, featuring a roomier seat, the straight fit and roomy fit make them an almost exact replica of the chinos of the 1940s and 1950s, the design itself Designed for comfort and durability in military environments.
Take a closer look at that belt. It’s called a “Hollywood” belt, which means it’s a little higher, like Gene Kelly in an american in paris high – and made from the same fabric as the rest of the pants, there are no noticeable seam breaks, which makes everything look more seamless. It’s flattering, rare these days, and totally the rule.
Did I mention these chinos are stoned? Or, a little drunk. As part of the manufacturing process, Buck Mason gives the puppies what it calls an “enzyme garment wash” so that they have a more distressed texture when they leave the factory. Also known as “bio-stonewash” (cool word), this wash is a more modern, greener version of the old-school stonewash and gives these pants what Barker calls a “flatpack” finish. It feels great running on my hands and even better on my legs.
After several months of wearing them, including during the most active seasons of the year, I can confidently say that I have wrung these chinos dry, and once, after a near-miss with a strawberry, I even had to Get out the stain remover and prepare a snack for your son. But they turned out brilliantly, especially the corozo ties, made from Ecuadorian nuts, which looked indestructible.
You’ll typically find me pairing Full Saddles with a Buck Mason T-shirt, a zigzag pearl snap denim shirt, a Type II denim jacket, and black boots—I don’t think I need or want to tweak this foolproof formula. While Buck Mason also offers a slim fit, personally, I try to avoid the boxer silhouette in my daily life.
Buck Mason’s Full Saddle Chinos retail for $158, but for such great pants, Buck Mason will replace them for free, and I’d usually spend double that. (At Ralph Lauren, Blue In Green, and James Perse, you certainly can.) Personally, I could easily see myself spending three times as much just to make sure I own all three of this Buck Mason pair Colorways—khaki, black, and fatigue green—plus a spare pair of beaters to boot.
