Vintage look: the full-leg trouser.

[Cary Grant]

Seeing this look in AA always gets me dreaming. Seeing it in the films of the 30's and 40's even more-so.

Anybody here a practioner of the high-waist, full leg trouser? Any pics? I have the sort of tall, lanky, broad-shouldered frame that could support this but... is it just not advisable in this day and age? Just too naff?

 

[Connemara]

It would look atrocious in a modern context.

 

[DocHolliday]

I see it sometimes on vintage aficionados and rarely think it looks good. Just too period, too costumey. I've noticed a few exceptions to the rule, but usually it requires a very specific, fairly aggressive style.

 

[itsstillmatt]

If you wanted to do it, I think you would need both a lot of personal style, and to have them made by a good tailor.

 

[LabelKing]

Designers such as Burberry Prorsum make wide trousers.

 

[Cary Grant]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I see it sometimes on vintage aficionados and rarely think it looks good. Just too period, too costumey. I've noticed a few exceptions to the rule, but usually it requires a very specific, fairly aggressive style.

My fear as well.

Originally Posted by iammatt

If you wanted to do it, I think you would need both a lot of personal style, and to have them made by a good tailor.

Yes- the entire outfit would need to be bespoke by a tailor who knew what they were doing.

Additionally- I'd guess I really couldn't do just one outfit like this, I'd need to commit to the vintage look.

Ah, but to dream... I always new that, in another life, I played in Glenn Miller's orchestra.

 

[Manton]

Those do not look that crazy to me, but then I guess I get most of my trousers high-waisted and full cut.

 

[J'aimelescravates]

It can be modern a la Giorgio Armani.
I think to pull off the look successfully you need to have the proper frame to balance out the fulllness of the trouser.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by Manton

Those do not look that crazy to me, but then I guess I get most of my trousers high-waisted and full cut.

The images don't look that full to me either -- not that far off a Brooks cut. I'm referring more to the vintage stuff I've seen in real life. I presumed that's more what Cary had in mind, as otherwise he could just buy Brooks stuff.

 

[crazyquik]

Agreed, they don't look too much different than some RTW Burberry and Brooks trousers I have.

But if you go too far, you'll end up with Oxford bags, which came after the 1924 ban on wearing knickers to lecture.

 

[Smahatma]

Alternatively, you could have titled this thread "The NBA player look"

 

[Osprey Guy]

I have always loved the full leg, high rise trouser. I was sooooo pleased when I spotted them again in recent Armani and Burberry ads.

My first real intro into "high-end" fashion was with early Armani and Versace trousers. They fit like nobody else's trousers. Not only did/does the fuller cut offer more comfort/more room to move, but there is a certain, inherent luxury about all the extra fabric. Same opinion when it comes to sport shirts. Versace understood this concept. Lots of expensive, wonderful-to-touch fabric equates to luxury...perhaps even decadence.

On a related note...A huge percentage of men in the US are overweight...So where are the high-rise pants for these guys (me included) so that our bellies aren't falling over the waistband. Especially with jeans! Good luck finding high-rise jeans. I've found a few...but no easy task.

I see no reason why a fuller, high-rise pant can't co-exist with the skinnier, slimmer look that is currently monopolizing the marketplace. Looking forward to its return in "full force!"


Dennis

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

Seeing this look in AA always gets me dreaming. Seeing it in the films of the 30's and 40's even more-so. Anybody here a practioner of the high-waist, full leg trouser? Any pics? I have the sort of tall, lanky, broad-shouldered frame that could support this but... is it just not advisable in this day and age? Just too naff?

What I never understood is the use of these drawings to illustrate traditional men's clothing. It's used on this forum and a lot in Flusser's books. My reply has nothing to do with the OP (so take no offense), but I think it is ridiculous to convey fit, drape and color with these drawings. Maybe styling as a general concept, but otherwise pointless. More classic photos of these gentleman are in order.

 

[dsmolken]

I've got four pairs of MTM trousers which fit this description, but I've got a big bubble butt and meaty thighs so they look pretty normal on me. Hip-hop jeans look normal on me, too.

 

[Sebastian]

I have BB Garbadine trousers, that are in fact shockingly full cut. (Got them on Ebay for 20$)

I had my tailor finishing them with a 2" cuff and on the short side. Looks quite good now, although in general I prefer slimmer trousers.

The trousers in the AA illustrations don't seem to be outreagously wide, so, I don't see a problem in wearing pants like these.