Now me personally. I have enjoyed pleated trousers for many years now. During my transitional period from suedehead to punk, I enjoyed a brief period wearing outrageous electric blue and red pleated baggies from a certain shop in the kings road, chelsea. Even after the punk thing died out, I returned to pleated trousers as opposed to anything bondaged or zipped, and had a pair of trousers made in tribute to mr. bowie at the carnaby cavern. they were burgundy and had twenty pleats (I still have them). Five each side at the front and five each side at the back. They would make a good wind sock.
In the following years post 1970 - 85 I have pretty much settled on pleated trousers, although a much more tamed down version more akin to those worn in the states. However, with the big Mod revival over here in the UK most suits and trousers have reverted to flat fronts. It has taken a year or so for me to accept this and start wearing these (or a single pleat with some of my work suits).
What is the Ivy League take on trousers pleated or otherwise, and bear in mind I am of the fuller figure so skinny trousers are a total no no? If they must be flat front then the have to be wide fitting not drainpipes.
flat front "is ivy" and is...well...cooler.
pleats remind me of my school trousers. no thanks.
You see that is either age difference or location. My school trousers were Levi or Brutus Sta press so I grew up with flat front for school.
I suppose most would say flat front. To my eyes it is a pretty minor tailoring detail, and one that doesn't seem to have much discernable effect on fit at that. On suits the pleats will be hidden anyhow.
A few of my my trousers have darts, basically a sewn down single pleat.
I used to wear all pleated trousers. I have become a convert to the plain front look. I guess I understand the utility of pleats, but the plain front is a much cleaner look. Pleated pants work best if they are worn on the natural waist. They look awful if worn closer to the hips which causes the pleat to flare out.