If you ever take a look at Renaissance portraits, you’ll notice that the subjects are always wearing voluminous clothing, overflowing with layers of fabric. At the time, exotic fabrics were expensive, so packing as many yards as possible into an outfit was a flex on par with rocking a diamond-encrusted watch today.
Which is why Buck Mason’s Big Chino would be a hit in fifteenth-century Europe. The wide-leg, high-rise cut is inspired by the 1940s, by way of the 1990s, and represents the polar opposite of the slim fit that dominated the 2010s.
Given the cyclical nature of the fashion industry, the comeback of giant-fit chinos was inevitable. J.Crew led the charge a few years back, a progressive move made by their recently resigned men’s creative director, Brendan Babenzien.
Now, the look is sold everywhere from affordable retailers like Uniqlo to avant-garde luxury labels like The Row. But the clearest indication I’ve seen that the look has moved past the trend phase into widespread adoption is Buck Mason’s endorsement.
Few brands have as firm a grasp on the menswear zeitgeist as Buck Mason. The Los Angeles-based brand tactfully translates progressive fashion trends to a mainstream audience, grounding everything in an always-relevant mid-century aesthetic.
The new restock of Buck Mason’s Big Chino is a clear indication that the demand is out there and the look is here to stay. And if you’re embracing the admittedly comfortable wide fit, this is the best place to start.
