Last winter I ruined a pair of Bills and didn't have the cash to replace them. I got two pairs of Nautica khakis from Marshalls at $12 a pop. They have held up well. Even with a sport coat. I find that the main advantage of bills, mercer, etc. is that they age well. I'm going to guess that the Nauticas will soon get rather tatty and need to be replaced, while Bills, even the new pre-washed ones, would still be going strong.

 

My bill's are finally fraying at the cuff, after 6 months of wearing, 3-4 days every week.

 

My bill's are finally fraying at the cuff, after 6 months of wearing, 3-4 days every week.

Taking a page from familyman's playbook, that makes your Bills about a $1 per wearing (assuming you paid full price).

That is surprising to me. Of course, you can always have them re-hemmed or repaired for additional wearings.

 

I've been curious about the "GI Chino" ever since Harris extolled them a while back. Haven't seen them in person, though. With PRL's recent move toward more a fitted silhouette, I fear I'd find the fit unsatisfactory.

 

Taking a page from familyman's playbook, that makes your Bills about a $1 per wearing (assuming you paid full price).

That is surprising to me. Of course, you can always have them re-hemmed or repaired for additional wearings.

I paid 34 dollars for them. Also, by fraying, I meant it just began to fray a little bit. Maybe 1/8 of an inch of fraying. These pants are still going very strong.

Also, since I'm a college student, I would do a lot of crazy things while wearing them. So more damage.

 

I have a number of polo chinos of different colors and styles. They hold up fine, I just wish they could be purchased unhemmed. My favorite pair of chinos are actually a pair of old j crew ones - beat up and frayed, but they fit perfectly and are as comfortable as pjs.

 

I have a number of polo chinos of different colors and styles. They hold up fine, I just wish they could be purchased unhemmed. My favorite pair of chinos are actually a pair of old j crew ones - beat up and frayed, but they fit perfectly and are as comfortable as pjs.

Depending on your inseam . . . I am only 5'10", so I buy the 34" length, which gives plenty of fabric for a nice cuff.

 

Depending on your inseam . . . I am only 5'10", so I buy the 34" length, which gives plenty of fabric for a nice cuff.

Good point, I have actually done the same thing as you on a pair of polo flannel trousers.

 

I bought a pair of flat front Polo khakis at Marshall's last May that, to me at least, were 'just khakis' when I got them. But a few washes and wearings later, they're nice and soft and still going strong. My only regret about them is that I seem to be drawn to lean against things while wearing them, forcing me to resort to a stain remover more than once.

 

My favorite Polo khakis were the original Philip pants, which are no longer made. They fit great (nice and loose), and were made of a terrific fabric that looked better with each washing. The newer Philip pants fit much slimmer, have skinnier belt loops, and are made of inferior fabric. PRL's other flat-front khakis, the Prospect pants, aren't any better. I occasionally run across the older style Philip pants in the thrift stores, so there's still hope.

They used to make a flat-front khaki called the "GI pant" or something similar. I've heard good things about them, but they also appear to have been discontinued.* I never had the opportunity to try them on.

Most of PRL's other khakis are pleated, so I avoid them.

*Edit: I just noticed that PRL still has the "Vintage GI Pant" listed on their web site. However, the photos make them appear a lot tighter than anything the GIs ever wore, so I suspect they may have gotten the same treatment as the Philip pant.

 

Has anyone tried the new "easton" (or is it "eaton") khakis?

I don't own any polo chinos but I was very impressed by their "prospect" chinos I tried on at Macy's a few months ago.

 

Polo Khakis

Ralp[h Lauren (Polo) is making TWO versions of its Andrew polo pant. The standard department store version retails at about $75.00 and has the rear pocket logo extolling "original polo chino quality".It has piped back seams, french fly, heavier weight material and better overall construction..The other Andrew, sold at the outlet stores just says "polo chino" and retails for about $39.00 .They are junk khakis of very thin material, but sport an Andrew label. The quality differences are striking, so be warned that the name Andrew is just the model name ( WWII type forward pleat) and not indicative of quality.

 

I have several pairs of Polo chinos and find them to be satisfactory. I am not a little guy and while I like Bills they are quite baggy and do not fit me so well. The Polo on the other hand fit nicely. I even have a couple pair of the embroidered styles, mallards and a pair with dogs. They have all held up nicely. I have bought all of mine at Steinmart and I do not think I paid more than $35 for any of them...compared to $100+ for the Bills.

 

I'm going to look at some Bills tomorrow. If they are better made than the Polos Premiums I bought yesterday,the Polos go back and I buy the Bills.
It stands to reason that if I'm paying retail I want the better made khakis.I tried Sierra online but they have only closeouts in odd sizes.I
have to say though that the Polo premiums look pretty good in construction and features( the same reverse pleat that us older guys love so well).
Ive never seen the Bills twill up close,but I hear that the original Bills is no more amd that theyre running on reputation-.Could that be correct? I hate to think so

 

The old Polo Phillips are great trousers - I didn't know they had "improved" them with a new, inferior version, but I'm not surprised. I have a few pair in various shades and all are going strong after many wearings and washings. I even know of some hunt staff with the local fox hunt who wear the white ones instead of $400 breeches in the hunt field.
Pretty good testament to durability.

 

Went to Tusk, our beachfront Vero Beach upscale mens shoppe.They carry Bills Khaki,Ghurka leather and Tommy Bahama. went to check out the khakis and fell in love with the Bills. Bought a pair of Limited Edition M2 Regatta Twills in Dune and the price included tailoring. The manager said this year almost all the men purchasing from Tusk are choosing cuffs 1 1/2 inch wide up to 2 inches maximum. A few older guys opt for one inch cuffs, but I ordered 1 1/2 inch.Beautiful fit and the fabric is hard finished in a steepish twill weave that feels like it will last forever.Cuffs just barely broke over my shoe tops. Made a Bills believer out of me.Returned all the Polos & Bass khakis that I had got two days before.
Went back to Tusk today with my lady and she went straight into the sale room in back and brings out a pair of Bills M2 khakis in washed blue Oxford fabric in my size for $52.00 with cuffs.Tusk told me that all the Bills retailers order six months in advance and carry some but not all the Bills products and fabics or colors, so what you see is what you get unless they special order for you from the factory.Bills has a dizzying array of styles and fabrics so it pays to look closely at the garment you are going to buy.