BR just launched a new rapid movement chino that's supposed to be more flexible and durable. Anyone get the chance to try it? It's priced at a whopping 98 bucks but of course there's a 40% off deal, so I'm a bit hesitant to pull the trigger.

Their original chino was already pretty flexible I thought (even the Fulton fit) so I'm not quite sure what they're going for?

It looks like the Mason Athletic-Fit Chino that BR used to carry has been discontinued, which is unfortunate because they were near-perfect for me.
Is the Athletic Rapid Movement Chino the same thing? The website seems to be directing me that way, but I'm not sure they are the same. The price point is slightly different (the Mason was $125 and the Rapid Movement is $100).

Anyone know?

I have a 0 Chinos wardrobe crisis atm. I'm learning that quality is important and I need to buy all my base colors, clean wardrobe build strictly for casual wear in small art city vibes.

I tried on J.Crew in store and Slim and Straight fits, and Slim rides my junk when doing light movements. I'm 5'11, 165lbs, toned and work out, but not very big built. Do I just deal with the crotch being slightly tight and go Slim?

For quality, should I shoot for J.Crew, Banana Republic, or pony up more money for $100+ Bonobos or something else?

https://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=35878&sop=true

Hello!

I just got a job at a financial company where the dress code is business casual, but suits are worn often. While I have enjoyed the period of my life when going to class in pajamas was commonplace, I have been working on putting together a new wardrobe that is a bit more "grown up" and professional.

While I have yet to find some oxford shirts that fit me well (I am probably at fault here for ordering the wrong size) and have a nice collar roll, I have been able to try some different shirts from Bonobos, Uniqlo, and J. Crew. Hopefully, the Spier and Mackay oxfords that I just ordered will fit me well. Btw I'm 5'6" with slightly broader shoulders and longer arms. I prefer tapered fits that are slimmer around the waist. My thoughts on the shirts that I have tried:

J. Crew (the oxford with American Pima Cotton/Mechanical Stretch): I got a medium in slim fit, way too baggy and way too much material, especially in the sleeves. Shoulders and chest fit fine, so I am hesitant to size down as I don't want the shirt to be too tight around my neck and chest area. The fabric seemed fine, but didn't stretch as much as the name implied.

Uniqlo Easy Care Shirts: Their small, slim fit, easy care shirt fit me perfectly, but the fabric definitely left a lot to be desired. It felt plasticy and was fairly transparent. It was very easy to see my flesh toned undershit. The collar is also fairly decent for the price.

Bonobos: Not much to say here. Fit was fine but I didn't like how the material felt and was also kind of transparent.

*note: Also got their weekday warrior pants. Didn't fit me well at all. The legs were long and the rise felt way too low.

Now on to the pants: The Banana Republic Rapid Movement Chinos (Aiden Fit) feel great. The leg opening on the slim fit could be smaller, but fit is overall pretty solid. Good rise, great colors, and very comfortable. I will probably take these to a tailor to get them tapered and hemmed. I got them when Banana Republic had a 50% off deal so definitely look out for that as I feel that $40-$50 is a great price for these pants.

Shoes: The Meermin Loafers in Tan Soft Calf (https://www.meermin.es/in_en/catalog/category/view/id/9/?p=3) are pretty great. The tan generally doesn't seem to be considered terribly versatile, but I wear a lot of blues and navies and I like how the colors go together. They were extremely soft out of the box and required almost no break-in time. The leather feels a great and the craftsmanship feels pretty good for a sub $200 shoe. Really impressed with Meermin.

I will probably be posting an update once my Spier and Mackay shirts come in.

edit: some grammar

I’ve just about worn through my decade-old Banana Republic Aiden chinos, but it looks like Banana Republic doesn’t sell quite the same thing anymore. I love these pants because they’re 100% cotton and feel so durable. I don’t necessarily hate pants the have a bit of stretch to them, but these pants have no stretch and feel so resilient. Pants that have some spandex or elastic material don’t feel quite as strong as cotton. I also really love that they fasten with a clasp and button hidden inside the waist. They kind of look like your typical dress pant with no exposed button on the outside. It just makes them look a bit classier than your typical chino I would argue.

I am looking for pants that are the most similar to the old Banana Republic Aidan chinos - little not no “stretch” and no exposed button. I’ve heard good things about Bonobos chinos and I like the look and the fact they are 98% cotton. They do have a button on the outside though (yes, I could probably live with this). Their Weekday Warrior dress pants have the look that I like but I worry they are probably more like typical dress pant and are more thin and delicate. This would lack the durability and versatility I’m looking for.

I was going to buy a few pairs from Bonobos to try, but figured I would ask this first. Thanks!

UPDATE - for anyone who comes across this post in the future and is looking for chino recommendations.

I chose to order a few pairs from Taylor Stitch and Bonobos and was generally very happy with both. The Taylor Stitch pants had the durable, 100% cotton feel that I like, but wish they had some more color options. The Bonobos Original Chinos were comfy and fit well. I am slimmer, so the tailored fit worked best for me. I also threw in a pair of their Primo Chinos to try and was pleasantly surprised. They have a much softer feel and definitely a bit dressier pair of pants. I plan to keep pairs from both companies. I was disappointed that one of the pairs I received from Bonobos was clearly from a different lot or something from the others. The color didn’t match (even though I ordered the same color for all sizes and styles I order) and worse, there were multiple stains on them. Hopefully this isn’t indicative of a greater quality issue with them.