I’m a die-hard Zara stan. There may be other luxury labels I turn to for investment pieces and designer accessories, but for affordable; of-the-moment wardrobe refreshes that hit a plethora of new-season trends, Zara reigns supreme. Somehow, they always seem to be one step ahead of the sartorial curve, making curating a capsule collection for less an absolute breeze.
This season, there’s a lot on the menu. Low-rise waists as approved by Givenchy, Stella McCartney and Zimmermann, Dior and Louis Vuitton-adored summer black and a whole lot of cobalt blue – as per David Koma and Cecilie Bahnsen’s SS23 runways. And denim. There’s some really good denim.
I’m a forever fan of Zara’s Marine Straight Jeans (they’re so high-waisted and stretchy, and keep their shape wash-after-wash) – but a recent scroll through the new-in section of the site had me drooling over a particular pair of chinos.
Granted, chinos have long been reminiscent of privately-educated men drinking Champers at the Henley Royal Regatta, but bear with me. When done well, chinos can actually become one of the most versatile pieces of clothing in your wardrobe, particularly during the S/S season. They work as structured worker pants that you can whip out for errands and house moves, for holidays in all of their earthy safari tones, for mild summer evenings in their many light linen variations, or as modern office trousers when cut in the classic in 2000s silhouette with patch pockets and a low-slung waist. The chino goes everywhere.
And in a fresh take (which makes them altogether more appeasing to the masses), Zara’s denim-look chino pants are selling with haste. If recent trends are anything to go by (remember ~that~ TikTok-trending mini dress?), they’ll be gone before you know what has hit you.
A hybrid between denim jeans and light fabric pants, the ZW Denim Chinos combine the elegance of classic chinos with the off-duty appeal of jeans. They’re loose-fitting, not-too-snug on the waist and with pleasingly large pockets for storing your essentials. As for how to style them? A linen shirt and white trainers will take you from office to post-work drinks in one fell swoop, while a blazer and heeled sandals combo will work for strictly smart occasions.
It’s also worth noting that their wide legs means they’re complimentary with a whole plethora of trending spring shoes: sandals, sneakers, chunky loafers and clogs. Maybe it’s best to buy them twice – because you won’t find such an affordable all-rounder for the warm days anywhere else.
© Cortesía de Zara