The day Humphrey Bogart’s trousers got a makeover

Or almost. We've taken a true icon from the past, a legend from the generations before us, and brought it up to date. A palaeontologist's job that has allowed us to roll back the boundaries of style and comfort.

Cord isn't the first thing you find cladding up young folks. It's not even something for those who think they're young. It's a material that came into its own at the end of the 19th century when its durable credentials made it a workers’ favourite with chunky cotton wales.

But then these trousers disappeared in the madness of the 80s. Too old-fashioned, too thick, not racy enough. No need for such sturdy stuff to keep workers upright after a day on the plum liqueur.

We can all agree that cord trousers have gathered a lot of dust over the years. So we got out our feather dusters and gave them a new lease of life. For starters, they're no longer called trousers but Chinos. This is why:

Trousers are the great classic, often with a traditional cut, a high waist and sometimes a little too stiff. Chinos, on the other hand, are the modern little brother. They have a more fitted, straight or slightly tapered cut, which is perfectly suited to a casual style without looking like jogging bottoms. Basically, the chinos are what you want to wear every day: they’re lighter, more comfortable, and much more in tune with the times. The right mix of style and laidback appeal, and that's why we love them.

But not all chinos are perfect, far from it, and even less so when they’re made of cord. The cut is too loose or too slim, and the cord is too thin or too heavy. The right balance is key.

To make sure ours is perfect, we've designed it with a cut that's a touch carrot-shaped. It's also the very first cut mid-ankle in the Asphalte wardrobe. These are chinos pioneers, and they pack everything you need for the years to come.

We've left nothing to chance when it comes to our choice of cord. It’s 100% Made in France, manufactured at Velcorex in the east of the country. It packs in at 385g/m2, so a touch on the heavy side without going overboard.

These Cord Chinos are a big first for us. But we're confident it'll keep you warm all winter long, and beyond. At the first chill in the air, just throw on one leg, then the other, and you'll feel right at home under a warm blanket.

The Cord Chinos will be available to preorder from next Tuesday 10 am CET for 109€. They will be available in four handpicked colours: Midnight Blue, Beige, Forest Green and Petrol Blue.

That's a very fair price that we'll hard time keeping this low in the future. In fact, if you miss out on the preorder, it's possible that you'll find it at a Stock Sale, but the price will then rise to 149€ to reflect the added inventory costs.

For your information, it'll be delivered at the end of November, just in time to keep your legs warm inside.

Need to know anything else? Drop it in the comments below or check our international Instagram page for the answer. Possibly.

Thanks,

The Asphalte Team