What Are Your Thoughts on Flat Front Dress Pants?

alebrady · Jun 18, 2009

It seems that most 'classic' references are trousers with pleats. I am wondering if you view flat fronts as a viable alternative to pleats or is it something you associate with a fashionable trend that is popular right now?

I have always preferred pleats and cuffs but I recently acquired some fitted coats (think Huntsman) and have been directed toward flat front plain bottom trousers to harmonize with them. So, I am trying to reconcile my natural preference with what might go best with the trimmer Hunstman style cut.

Do you agree that it would be best to get a slimmer, flat front trouser in this case?

I should note, these are going to be worsted and flannel trousers, for work business casual mostly but also some social settings.

Mild Mannered · Jun 19, 2009

Flat fronts are soo boring but they are trendy right now, even so I am keeping my pleated pants.
Both are always going to be acceptable anyway so enjoy both. thats my opinion anyway.
to me flat fronts will look dated faster than any pleated pants will. even just one pleat is cool.

SkinnyGoomba · Jun 19, 2009

I like flat fronts on a skinny bastard like me.

blackbowtie · Jun 19, 2009

Originally Posted by Mild Mannered

Flat fronts are soo boring but they are trendy right now, even so I am keeping my pleated pants.
Both are always going to be acceptable anyway so enjoy both. thats my opinion anyway.
to me flat fronts will look dated faster than any pleated pants will. even just one pleat is cool.

Among my male friends within my age group (late 20s) though, pleated pants are often seen as representing the old and fuddy duddy look, whereas flat fronts are seen as the more "youthful" look. But maybe we all will learn when we are past 30

When I had my first bespoke suit made, my tailor convinced me that pleated pants are the way to go. He promised me that he will make them look good on me. First fitting is in October. We'll see...

fcuknu · Jun 19, 2009

Originally Posted by alebrady

It seems that most 'classic' references are trousers with pleats.

This isnt true. Flat front pants actually predate pleated pants, the only problem is all those people are dead and there are few photos to support it.

Its in the same vein as a tuxedo being formalwear. At one point it was an informal dressing worn by some guys in tuxedo park, now its formalwear.

So saying "classically blah blah blah" isn't always correct because even menswear is cyclical, while not nearly as quickly as fashion, but it still is.

HORNS · Jun 19, 2009

I personally don't see flat front pants as "trendy", considering that I've been wearing them almost exclusively for 10 years now. I like the cleaner lines of flat-front pants.

aeglus · Jun 19, 2009

Flat fronts are great if you're in good shape.

alebrady · Jun 19, 2009

Originally Posted by fcuknu

This isnt true. Flat front pants actually predate pleated pants, the only problem is all those people are dead and there are few photos to support it.

Its in the same vein as a tuxedo being formalwear. At one point it was an informal dressing worn by some guys in tuxedo park, now its formalwear.

So saying "classically blah blah blah" isn't always correct because even menswear is cyclical, while not nearly as quickly as fashion, but it still is.

im not sure that you correctly interpreted my point. My observation and question had nothing to do with which came first, merely that in most references to being 'classicaly' attired trouser references seem to include pleats. I was also using the term classical in reference to past eras that are commonly held to provide many of our current day principles in dress, though certainly there may have been other, traditional uses or aesthetics prior to those eras.

i think your point is a good one though - that things change even in traditional uses and aethetics in menswear.

madaboutshirt · Jun 19, 2009

flat front pants are great if you don't have big hips like mine!

fcuknu · Jun 19, 2009

Well I think when people assume classic they think old or original. In this case classically really just means the early-mid 1900s. I think the same way, I always associate pleats and big cuffs with more classical dressing, when its not necessarily "true". If dressing from the 20s-50s is classic, then what would the 1800s be?

RyJ Maduro · Jun 19, 2009

Pleats are Wrong. Flat-front trousers with cuffs are Right.

styleme_now · Jun 19, 2009

Originally Posted by aeglus

Flat fronts are great if you're in good shape.

+1

Horatio · Jun 19, 2009

+1
Pro flat fronts. They fit slim guys like me just fine.

Horatio · Jun 19, 2009

suitsusid · Jun 19, 2009

i too am Pro Flat front trousers, i could do with losing a few pounds and think these fit and look just right. make you look slimmer even...

What Are Your Thoughts on Flat Front Dress Pants?

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