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Corduroy Pants in the Golden Era?

Rudie

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2,069
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Berlin
In Europe corduroy was quite popular for country and work wear. Another jeans substitute in Europe was moleskin. Both are still the fabric of choice for carpenter's trousers today. Also, old suits were often worn as work wear as well since the fabrics were much sturdier than today.
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
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7,562
Location
Australia
Of course they were - intellectuals, university dons, students and connoisseurs of fine art objects also often wore cord pants with tweed jackets. Cords were genteel casual wear with rustic overtones. I've read references to George Orwell wearing corduroy pants in the early 1940's. They were also worn by adventurers (the kinds of folk that went of the fight Franco in the 1930's). Here's Alan Ladd from China in cords (click twice for large) - this was the model in part for Indiana Jones (who doesn't wear cords).

wrk9.jpg
 
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Rudie

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2,069
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Berlin
I think the Aero waistband looks wrong, too many fabric layers. Somebody (probably one of the tailors on this board) mentioned it has to do with the construction. Somehow they followed modern standards and folded the seam allowance over the wrong way resulting in this funny looking thick waistband. The waistband would look much better IMO if it was flatter.
 

Rudie

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2,069
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Berlin
I have their high rise trousers. Very high quality work wear trousers. Well worth their price.
 
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12,422
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Germany
Just coming back from classic department-store in bigger city and I drove home with a black one of their nice storebrand cord-trousers. It's usual fine-cord. We will see. :)
 

David Conwill

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2,854
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Bennington, VT 05201
That raises an interesting question for me: What wale is most appropriate for what era or usage? I've always preferred finer wales but the Aero trousers seem to be on the coarser side.
 

tropicalbob

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3,954
Location
miami, fl
I mentioned this somewhere else, but back in the 1940's Samuel Beckett, the Irish writer (who lived in France). once replied to a question about the place of art in Ireland by saying, "Your average Irishman doesn't give a fart in his corduroys about art." This will give you some idea about the ubiquity of corduroys in the 1940's.
 

tropicalbob

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3,954
Location
miami, fl
It's always seemed odd to me that it's so difficult to find nice corduroy suits. Back in the '60's and '70's they were fairly common but only in brown. Agnes B. Homme did some beautiful ones later on in navy blue, but I haven't seen them in some time. If I lived in a cooler climate I'd be very tempted to see about a bespoke one. I wonder what the boys at the SJC forum might think.
 

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