I have to wear black pants to work and became used to the comfort of wearing slim cut jeans-- the lower rise, the convenience of having 5 pockets, etc. I tried a variety of different brands/cuts of chinos, but none lived up to that fit. I finally decided to give these a try and have been VERY pleased.They have just the right amount of stretch and actually look dressier than most chinos. Another positive is the thinness of the fabric; that's especially important for keeping my legs cool in the hot, humid temps here in the South. I only hope that the thinness of the fabric doesn't come back to haunt me by way of decreased durability/life of the pants. Stay tuned..!