Tuxedo pants: pleats vs. flat

[ahoffman7]

My first tuxedo. With respect to pants, pleats or flat.......what's the verdict gentlemen? Advice appreciated.

 

[ArliHawk`]

Not that I am an expert, having just purchased my first formal outfit, I chose flat front. I think pleated is more traditional, but I bought pants to wear with a velvet smoking jacket.

 

[Saenek]

Flat front, no cuffs.

 

[Dewey]

http://www.blacktieguide.com/Classic...s/Trousers.htm

"While plain-front trousers are more common today, pleated styles remain the dressiest option."

 

[fcuknu]

I dont buy that pleats make something more dressy, thats crap. Pleats make you look older and fatter.

 

[JayJay]

All my trousers are flat front including my tuxedo pants.

 

[minnesotamoon]

I have a tux coming in April and ordered flat fronts. I think with a tux you want to look as "sleek" as possible and any extra material around the mid section will clash with the lines of the tux.

 

[fcuknu]

I love when the "black tie authority" will come up with rules as if they are the supreme set in stone forever rules. A tuxedo jacket was originally an informal jacket, it has become formal. Pleated pants were once widely accepted, now.... ew.

 

[David V]

I like pleats.
Some like flat front.
Wear what you like regardless of what the voices say.
Just wear braces and cover the waistband to avoid the look-I'm-on-the-red-carpet-all-grown-up-in-a-tie-and-everything look

 

[David V]

Originally Posted by fcuknu

I love when the "black tie authority" will come up with rules as if they are the supreme set in stone forever rules. A tuxedo jacket was originally an informal jacket, it has become formal. Pleated pants were once widely accepted, now.... ew.
The guidelines were developed before you were born by men with taste and sophistication. As for you opinion on pleates...well you welcome to it.

 

[Johnathan]

Originally Posted by fcuknu

I dont buy that pleats make something more dressy, thats crap. Pleats make you look older and fatter.
+1,000,000

 

[David V]

Originally Posted by Johnathan

+1,000,000

And here I thought being old and fat made you look old and fat.

The new fountain of slim youth: Flat front pants.

 

[fcuknu]

Originally Posted by David V

The guidelines were developed before you were born by men with taste and sophistication. As for you opinion on pleates...well you welcome to it.

Ok, so long before those men who made those rules were born, the tux was very informal. Looks like they had poor taste and were unsophisticated....

 

[Bird's One View]

Flat front was traditional before pleats were traditional.

Today, either is fine.

(This is one of the few points on which I think blacktieguide is simply wrong.)

 

[ysc]

The point seems to be it dosn't matter. I have read that pleats are more formal, I don't particularly like them, but then I am very skinny.
I think what is important is getting whichever trouser suits your physique better, and whichever one you prefer, as you will probably just be sticking with the one for quite some time.