what is the difference between chinos and fatigues?
genuinely asking because googling this question didn't help
24 Replies
simplest version is fatigues have patch pockets and chinos dont
fatigues have the square pockets in the front, and flap pockets in the back chinos have hidden slot style pockets.
thank you for the responses. is there usually a difference between their design or fabric? why would there be a very similar type of pants but with square and flap pockets?
im guessing it's related to the history of both pants
yea, they developed at different places for different purposes
vastly paraphrasing, but chinos were officers pants and fatigues were worn by enlisted folk
is there a place or a book where I can read more about this?
i'd think the wikipedia pages would outline the history pretty well. not sure of any books per se from the fashion perspective on them
There are lots of resources online where you can find more specific info on makes and models of military uniform items. I dont have a book recommendation but just searching the model you are looking at will tell you alot
Fatigue pants are meant as a work uniform item and will be made of a material intended for field use. Chinos are more of a dress/service uniform purpose and will prioritize a clean appearance over function
Heddels has some articles about clothing history. They don't go into crazy depth but they're good reads
For example ww2 fatigues were made of herring bone twill (generally) due to its ruggedness and cut resistance. As we moved to korea and vietnam we transitioned to a cotton sateen and then to cotton ripstop for its lightweight and durability
Chinos are a cotton twill and have essentially remained unchanged since their inception other than maybe cut.
thank you all for the responses
this is really interesting, is there a difference in how the different fabrics can be interpreted nowadays? (i'm not sure how to phrase this, other than practical use for different environments, do the different fabrics look the same or do they fit in different outfits nowadays? or is it the design that changed?)
sorry for asking too much lol im really interested in it
Yah so utility uniforms very from service to service and from conflict to conflict and are often tailored to specific needs of the service person. Their design and function are often adapted to the conflict they are associated with and changed based on new technology or requirements of the service person
Late vietnam is a great example of major transition where camo patterns were becoming more widely used in combat roles and things like cargo pockets were being added to pants and blouses
We moved to a cotton ripstop material as well since it was hot weather environment and ripstop would allow you to keep the material very thin while maintaining a high level of durability
The cut and style of uniforms has remained nearly unchanged since vietnam with most changes consisting of camo changes and things like pocket shape and position
Most utility uniforms are essentially developed from standard workwear of the time, many early utility uniforms in the early 20th century were literally just denim pants and a denim jacket or popover, ww2 is where we really see a change towards the more recognized olive drab coloration and a move to more combat specific features
thank you for the answer!!
I should say this is based off of the american development of uniforms and other countries have gone through varying levels of development at different eras for different purposes
yeah, it also explains why the uniform in my country hasn't changed since its inception
and in other armies as well I guess, conflicts stayed around the same area so a complete redesign might not have been needed
Where are you from if you dont mind saying?
i feel uncomfortable sharing that, sorry lol
it's really cool though!
No worries!
I’m sure if you are interested in your own countries stuff some google digging can give you some answers
When i first got into militaria i would use google lens or or searching through model numbers for the era i was looking at til i found the one i was interested in. Knowing a model number helps alot to get details in a specific garment
i'll do exactly that, thank you!
I believe that the fabrics are different.
historically yes (though to some degree it also depends on what country is making the fatigue), but in modern times and in repros the choice of fabrics can vary
EG makes a fatigue pant with chino twill fabric for example https://nepenthesny.com/products/fatigue-pant-natural-chino-twill?srsltid=AfmBOorCorKuEAh25lH8e9T5IPs190zR-7SdYi8mjcsutggUeemPhHdy
Nepenthes New York
Fatigue Pant - Natural Chino Twill
These classic fatigue pants are based on US Army military pants, with a unique twist. It has a naturally tapered, versatile silhouette that matches a wide range of styles. A zip pocket has been added to the side of the characteristic L-shaped pocket on the front, and although it is simple, it has a unique gimmick typic
Jumping in - any recommended brands for fatigues that are available in Canada (for < CAD 150). Couldn't find Stan Ray to try out in store; Orslow and EG cost more that I'd like to spend.
Are these appropriate to wear in winter? (I wear Levi's jean year round without any issues)
Really depends on the weather. Orslow fatigues can be pretty lightweight; EG makes some in lightweight denim, mid-weight ripstop and decently heavyweight bull denim or moleskin.
I'm also in Canada and yeah -- Stan Ray's a bit hard to find here (I tried on some non-fatigues in MTL to get a sense of waist size).
Your best bet is probably wait for sales. I got lucky proxying some Orslow fatigues a while back for <$160 but you really have to get lucky, I haven't been since.
Thanks, will keep an eye out for Orslow discounts. Yes, for Stan Ray, I tried their Painter's Pants at Simons, but the fit was too unconventional (high rise) to order Fatigues online based on just that.