I wouldn’t say that there’s a special type of chinos to wear for work, but there are definitely some best practices to follow when it comes to finding work-appropriate chinos.

One of the most important things to get right with any pants is the length. Too-short chinos will make your outfit look rather casual …

… while too-long chinos will make your outfit seem sloppy and keep you from showing your best side.

A moderate length is always recommended, meaning that your chinos should rest on your shoes with one break.

There’s one design aspect of chinos that I haven’t touched upon yet. It’s a detail that will make your outfit look either outdated or up to par.

I’m talking about the front.

Back in the good ol’ days, pleats were the must-have detail of any pants. You could find trousers with one, two, or even three pleats on each side of the fly,

Wow, imagine how cool you must have been if you’re chinos had three pleats. Today, you’re pushing it with just one.

Pleats have definitely gone out of style; however, some uniforms still incorporate pants with this outdated detail. In that case, there’s not much you can do about it.

If you’re free to choose chinos yourself, always choose those with a front flat front (front without pleats), as a flat front looks more contemporary and stylish.