The Trouser

TROUSERS

Today’s trousers owe practically everything to two personalities from British history: Edward VII and his grandson Edward VIII, who made the following features popular: turn-ups, the front pleat, the belt instead of braces and even the zip … The only thing that haute couture lovers justly still reject.Over the years, the height and width of trousers has changed many times. For example, with a waistcoat and braces, they come up to the navel, but with a belt, the waistline is lower because it needs to rest on the hips.Everything regarding trousers is organised around a rigid dichotomy: with braces or belt, with darts or not, Italian darts (facing outwards) or English darts (facing inwards), high waist or normal, vertical or horizontal pockets, tight or wide. There is no accounting for taste. The suggested height of the turn-up is 4.5 centimetres. The trouser legs should lightly touch the shoe with the slightest hint of a fold. They should never be skin tight; one sees too many aspiring ballet dancers around town. When seated, check whether the thighs feel too tight. And when you stand up, check whether the legs are caught on the calves or whether they slip down easily.