My Search For Grey Slacks - Hickey Freeman, etc. Questions

Hey guys,

I've been searching for grey trousers to establish some wardrobe staples, and since I'm new to the quality clothes scene, I wondered if you might be able to field a couple of quick questions.

I've been looking for wool, with a year-round weight. Ebay has been my go-to for finding things well under retail. I'm even open to clothes previously worn a few times as long as there isn't any wear & tear. I've also been subscribed to the B&S forum, and as such see every new listing within minutes. The challenge is that not all that many people are 34x34, so I haven't seen any slacks on there that I'm looking for yet (been looking for a couple weeks now).

I have spotted some Hickey Freeman slacks, unhemmed. They're new with tags and packaging, retail for $375, and are going for $80. While this seems like a great deal, I wanted to seek your collective wisdom on whether such a pair of slacks is the ideal staple for a tall thin guy in the $80 pricerange, or if I should be looking for something different/better at that pricepoint?

If so, what should I be looking for, and where should I expect to find it? I've had people say "oh, for that money you could find some flat front incotex on the B&S forums" when in fact I've searched through the archives, and possibly twice in the last year have I found a matching pair that was for sale.

Appreciate any advice you can offer!

-Evan

Is there another site or forum that would be more geared towards a newbie like me getting this stuff figured out?

-Evan

If you save some more pennies and invest in something a little bit more - for example edmorel's Panta - I think it would pay off more in the long run. For a staple piece, you should not sell yourself short.

This reminds me I need to get some Pantas myself.

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

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If you save some more pennies and invest in something a little bit more - for example edmorel's Panta - I think it would pay off more in the long run. For a staple piece, you should not sell yourself short.

This reminds me I need to get some Pantas myself.
in 8-12 months I'll be able to spend significant money on revamping all my wardrobe staples with something very high quality and built to last. For now, I need quality enough to increase my credibility in the professional arena.

-Evan

If Panta is a bit too pricey try www.howardyount.com. Both guys make lovely stuff.

Originally Posted by Slewfoot

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If Panta is a bit too pricey try www.howardyount.com. Both guys make lovely stuff.

Those pants look fantastic! Still, as mentioned in the first post, $80 for slacks is well on the high-end of what I'm looking to spend. It looks like I'm still $100 short of your selections.

-Evan

Hickey Freeman slacks for $80 is good deal - go for it. There's nothing wrong with them. Of course there is always better (and more costly) but that doen't mean you need to go there.

Originally Posted by taxgenius69

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Hickey Freeman slacks for $80 is good deal - go for it. There's nothing wrong with them. Of course there is always better (and more costly) but that doen't mean you need to go there.

Great, I appreciate the direct response. So you would say these are great value for the money vs. spending the same or any less on a different pair?

-Evan

Originally Posted by Ahheck01

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Great, I appreciate the direct response. So you would say these are great value for the money vs. spending the same or any less on a different pair?

-Evan

Yes. I have recently seen a few HF pants for $100 which I was considering buying. I ended up buying a few Corneliani @ $109 but wouldve picked the HF at $80.

I'm sure Panta, Kiton, Oxxford and others are better, but so what. The incremental cost is not worth it unless you already have the basics and extra $$.

I recently went looking for the same thing. I posted a thread about it here:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=191810

Like you, I was very skeptical about throwing down $200 for a pair of trousers. In the end, however, I ended up buying Pantas and I think they're worth it. It's a staple, and I think staples are what should be the higher priced items.

However, if you really can't afford Pantas, I'd recommend some Mabitex pants. They're a very good second choice.

I've never tried on Hickey Freeman, but I assume they're a bit baggy. I could be wrong, however.

Originally Posted by chasingred

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I recently went looking for the same thing. I posted a thread about it here:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=191810

Like you, I was very skeptical about throwing down $200 for a pair of trousers. In the end, however, I ended up buying Pantas and I think they're worth it. It's a staple, and I think staples are what should be the higher priced items.

However, if you really can't afford Pantas, I'd recommend some Mabitex pants. They're a very good second choice.

I've never tried on Hickey Freeman, but I assume they're a bit baggy. I could be wrong, however.
Thanks for the post. I look forward to the photos!

I bought four pairs of H-F pants on sale about five years ago -- two different grays, a brown and a tan. I think they're made out of the same Super 130s that most of the main line suits are made of. While they don't have the flat front, slim fit, pick stitching, etc. features that I look for in my purchases these days, they've held up very well and are still going strong. For $80, if you like the style, you won't go wrong.

Just as a note, I know someone on here who was interested in selling a pair of grey Hickey pants. They're a little slimmer than Hickey Freeman, and in size 32. If you're interested, PM me and I'll pass your information along.