Where the devil did I read that these were making a comeback? Why? For what reason? My teenage chums wore strides with about a dozen pleats on either side. For some, of course, they never departed in the first place. I went through a short phase, though, of blushing each time I appeared in public wearing pleated stuff. Soon got over it.
"comeback"? Where have you been? Plain front trousers have been de rigeur since the 2000s started. Pleats died in the 90s, awful awful things they are. I have an unsettling feeling we'll be seeing more of them in the next decade when the fashion pendulum swings back that way.
I aim to please.
the only pleats I like are in my Type I or II Levi's denim jacket
I'm too bloody fat to wear 'em, lad, although Beatnik's Ghost I think is a devotee.
Pleats get a bad rap in the US because chubby guys buy pleated (double reverse) Dockers in their jeans size. When worn on the hips a la jeans, the pleats of these trousers balloon, making the wearer look, if not aroused, at least in a state of pre-coital contemplation.
And the pants are generally too long, so you get the puddle.
AND because the pants are worn on the hips, there is usually a vast expanse of belly hanging out, with the end of the tie marooned somewhere in the middle.
Trousers with single forward pleats are much better. Ralph of Long Island usually has some rattling around.
Last edited by Patrick (2010-07-23 09:56:10)
Good call, Patrick. I get the picture. The puddle is high on my shit list. Ditto the vast expanse.
Last edited by Get Smart (2010-07-23 10:42:55)
All my casual trousers have flat fronts. It is difficult to get suit trousers without pleats so I stick to single forward pleats.
Patrick has hit the nail squarley on the head - the horror of pleats derives mainly from the inability of the generality to understand where their waist actually is. Because people don't want to admit that they have a 40 (or more) inch waist, they like to have their strides fastened under their pendulous guts and around their hips.
Add pleats into the mix (which generally have a higher rise anyway) and you've got the "hard-on billow" - most unpleasant. Why fat people think wearing too small trousers under their stomachs makes them look thinner I've never understood. Properly sized trousers actually done-up around the waist are far moe flattering. Does that make me a facsist?
yes a fashion fascist - but rightly so !
It's amazing that even people that think they are "into fashon" - and are happy spending wads of cash on "designer" clothes, but do not have any knowledge of real basics.
Not hard and fast rules - just facts !
We should all be wearing Issey Miyaki!! Pleats, last pair of trousers I had with pleats was in 89!! Flat fronted slim straight leg ever since.
With the kids all going 80s crazy my way, i just look on with wide eyed wonder, seen a few shell suited number this last week?
I don't much like them. But I don't refuse to wear strides with them, so long as they're restrained.
Only strides I got with (two little) pleats are Fjällräven