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I am very into pants. Sounds weird, perhaps, but I am. And as someone who is very into pants, I feel uniquely qualified to tell you that the time to trade in your skinny-fit anything is now. I found a pair that absolutely needs to be added to your wardrobe. Those pants are J.Crew’s Giant Fit Chinos.
If I sound urgent, it’s because I am. These pants went viral on TikTok not too long ago, and have been pretty hard to score ever since—they’re often sold out, and if they’re not, it’s you and me versus hundreds of other menswear enthusiasts trying to score a pair from J.Crew. But out of the goodness of my heart—nay, out of my civic duty—I’m sharing these perfect pants with you in the hopes that you can get them by (and for) the holidays. The bad karma that would certainly result in me keeping these all to myself is too threatening to risk.
So, why the urgency? Why the stress? What makes these the perfect pants? I’ll get into that below, but for now, let me tell you: in terms of cut, comfort, and design, J.Crew has outdone itself. I’ll see you on the ‘Gram, at the holiday party, around town—I’ll be the gal in the Giant Fit Chinos.
They look great
The Giant Fit Chinos are J.Crew’s newly-updated take on its ‘90s style, and I don’t know what kind of witchcraft the brand imbued in them between the ‘90s and now, but whatever it is, it worked. Although these pants are marketed by J.Crew as its “widest fit”—and, moreover, named the Giant Fit Chinos—don’t be afraid, because they really aren’t that giant. Sure, compared to your standard, slim-fit chinos, these have a wide leg, but what’s great about these pants is that they’re flattering. No one would confuse the wide leg that these offer for the baggy, oversized look that only 20-year-old skater boys can pull off.
In fact, unlike many wide-legged pants on the market, I’d argue that these are actually universally flattering. Many pants that dare to add some roominess in the hips and thighs end up swallowing their wearer whole in a garment that looks like it was haphazardly purchased two sizes too large; J.Crew, however, expertly tailors its Giant Fit Chinos to elongate the legs (I’m 5’3” and look about 5’6” in these) rather than drown them. With the added detail of sewn cuffs at the hems, these chinos are clearly tailored and intentional, and you won’t have to worry about them brushing your shoes like some baggy pants tend to do.
Even though these have a wide leg that’s just wide enough to be contemporary trendy, the fitted waist ensures that the pants still sit nicely on your hips. I’ll answer the question that we’re all wondering: Yes, these do make your butt look amazing. They aren’t too roomy in the hips that you look like a rectangular board, but the flared silhouette makes them a versatile staple that you can easily dress up or down. Which is why…
You’ll keep them around forever
There really isn’t a way to style these pants and make them look bad. They’re a great alternative to regular old chinos, with a modernized look that makes even a plain button-down shirt look cool and clean. If you’re tired of wearing jeans all the time, these are a comfortable alternative that look smart with boots, sneakers, loafers, or dress shoes. Really, when you have the Giant Fit Chinos around, you won’t be overdressed or underdressed for an occasion ever again; a blazer and tie with penny loafers will have you ready for your office holiday party, while a tee and slides means Saturdays are for the boys.
These are dressy enough to show that you put in some effort and have some fashion sense, but not so dressy on their own that you’ll look out of place. The Giant Fit Chinos come in seven different colors—a traditional Black, Navy, Stone, and Dusty Khaki, alongside shades of green including Olive Fog, Catskill Green, and Dark Forest—that I guarantee you’ll be able to mix and match with whatever is already in your closet.
Trust me—these aren’t the pants you toss out in a couple of years because your fashion sense has changed or, god forbid, the trend forecast has. These are timeless, classic, and wearable. They’re chinos that have been around for ages, made better for now.
They’re built for success
Here’s some good news: J.Crew didn’t stop when it got the design down perfectly for these pants. Right down to the construction and quality, these are keepers.
Usually, I stray from wearing wide-legged pants in winter as a way to preserve body heat, but whether I wore these in 65 degrees or in 40 degrees, I was perfectly fine. The pants are made from a midweight (8.5 ounce) cotton twill that doesn’t feel heavy on the body, but certainly keeps out the cold in a way that other pants might not. The cotton twill is also equal parts soft and stretchy, so you can bend your legs to your heart’s content in these. And don’t be afraid of bunching when you sit down; I know you may be traumatized by your other chinos, but thanks to the built-in roominess with these, they won’t awkwardly bulge or scrunch when you’re seated.
Thanks to a stone and enzyme wash, the Giant Fit Chinos come with a pre-washed look and feel that means you won’t have to deal with breaking in a pair of stiff pants. They also have the nuts and bolts you’d expect of any good pair of chinos: sturdy, wide belt loops, welted back pockets with buttons, and angled side pockets ready to store your keys, phone, and wallet when you head to J.Crew to buy another pair.
Photography by Joe Lingeman. Prop styling by Heather Greene.
