Trouser creases: Yea or nay?

[TomWambsgans]

I recently ordered two pairs of trousers from Luxire and failed to specify that I didn't want a crease in them. So, I'm now the proud owner of pants I didn't intend to order.

Are there any 'rules'/guidelines for how I should wear them, or are creased trousers interchangeable with their uncreased counterparts? I've never given the matter any thought and my inclination is to just treat them interchangeably.

 

[madhat]

...you can steam/iron out creases...

Unless you're referring to pleats?

 

[TomWambsgans]

...you can steam/iron out creases...

Unless you're referring to pleats?

Not referring to pleats. Didn't know they can be ironed out easily--thanks!

 

[madhat]

I would suggest ironing inside out or using an ironing cloth so that you don't see iron marks (glossier)

 

[TomWambsgans]

What exactly is the purpose of the crease? Is it to give a more 'formal' look? I never paid attention to this (or many other things, frankly).

 

[madhat]

Yes - gives it a more tailored/pressed look. My casual trousers (chinos, moleskin, corduroy) I wear ironed but not creased. My dressier trousers, even casual suit trousers (tweed, flannel), will always be pressed.

 

[Arthur_Dent]

The crease disappears on its own after wearing it a couple of times. Depending on the material it will usually take 5-20 wears for it to vanish. If you want to get rid of it put your iron on maximum steam and just iron it out, but a lot of us take the time to press the crease in the trousers and keep it there! A nice video (don't forget to turn on subtitles):

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Wool slacks should be creased. Chinos are a different story.

 

[TexasToast]

I like my pants with a crease in them.

 

[dieworkwear]

They can be worn interchangeably. A crease will make the trousers look a bit smarter. In the past, creases were also put into trousers to help deal with baggy knees. This is more of an issue with materials such as flannel. Although, few people today have the tools or access to tailors who can reshape a trouser line, so the crease is mostly put in for aesthetic purposes.

I find that some men today wear very slim trousers, and a crease helps shape the pant so that it covers more of the front of the shoe. Something to consider

 

[TomWambsgans]

They can be worn interchangeably. A crease will make the trousers look a bit smarter. In the past, creases were also put into trousers to help deal with baggy knees. This is more of an issue with materials such as flannel. Although, few people today have the tools or access to tailors who can reshape a trouser line, so the crease is mostly put in for aesthetic purposes.

I find that some men today wear very slim trousers, and a crease helps shape the pant so that it covers more of the front of the shoe. Something to consider

Interesting. Thanks. If I understand you correctly, the crease becomes more of a necessity for flannel trousers due to the nature of that fabric?

 

[dieworkwear]

Interesting. Thanks. If I understand you correctly, the crease becomes more of a necessity for flannel trousers due to the nature of that fabric?

Sorry, my comment was written hastily and probably wasn't that clear.

There are a few reasons why ou might want a crease in your trousers

1. They look smarter
2. They help elongate the leg line
3. They help with the folding and hanging of pants
4. It's a more traditional look on tailored trousers (at least the non-casual kind, so excluding jeans)
5. If you wear very slim trousers, they help push the fabric forward, helping to mitigate some of the bad effects of wearing very slim pants.

Back in the day, some companies sold trouser presses, which helped keep a crease in trousers. Some of these companies claimed that it helped prevent bagging at the knee. This is more of an issue on soft woolens, such as flannel, rather than hard worsteds. This is an ad from 1884 or so.

And an ad in The Washington Post printed about a decade later

I don't own a trouser press, but I've heard some tailors reshaping wool trousers, including on baggy knees, by using a hot iron. I don't know if trouser presses actually work as they claim. I don't think they're sold anymore, but you can find vintage ones on eBay.

Realistically, however, few men have a trouser press or even access to a tailor who can mitigate these effects. So the crease in trousers is mostly an aesthetic choice. On a hard worsted, particularly high-twist wools such as tropical wool, a crease sets in pretty hard. No idea if you can iron it out, but I suppose you can. On a soft woolen such as flannel, they fall out after a few wears, depending on the fabric's weight. I don't bother ironing new creases into my soft woolen trousers -- it's just too much of a hassle. But I get them initially on all my trousers that are not strictly casual (e.g., not on corduroys or chinos). And on those pairs that hold a crease, I appreciate how they look.

 

[TomWambsgans]

That is fascinating. Thanks!

 

[maxalex]

Life is a constant struggle to preserve the creases in your trousers and prevent the ones on your brow.