boots to wear with breeks

[Geronimo]

As an aside, how do you like your Indian Army jumper? I've been meaning to get one of those for a while.

I got one a while back. The buttons looked wrong to me, and weren't very well sewn on. When one came off, I replaced all of them with dark brown ones. They've stayed nicely and look better, too, IMO. Very warm.

 

[Cobden]

so these?

What are the pukka boots you reference?

Something along those lines I think would work. Pukka is British slang (from Hindi), meaning "real", i.e. original WWII British Army Officers boots - sorry, should have clarified.

These are the what price glory ones http://onlinemilitaria.net/shopexd.asp?id=1493&bc=no; which should be fine with a bit of an attack with dark tan polish

 

[Alexi]

Terms lose their meaning over time. With respect to you and to Barbour, they aren't the same as traditional Scottish breek.

ehh well breeks was used in the Bishops War to refer to what we would think of as musketeer style breeches, so I'm guessing that the term breeks has had many different meanings over time. I would even hazard to guess that breeks pretty much just means breeches in Scots.

 

[Alexi]

it just doesn't look right with bean boots

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I am thinking over the Knee socks, any ideas where to source them?"

 

[Qirrel]

"I am thinking over the Knee socks, any ideas where to source them?"

Vintage shirt co. has some:

http://vintageshirt.co.uk/show_item...nd wool shooting socks&itemcat=socks&aspect=l

 

[Gaston]

Regarding breeches - I've spent quite a bit of time in them (I'm a reenactor), and hope these general comments will help the gentlemen here decide on a comfortable style.

c1740 breeches are fairly roomy and comfortable. You need either a finely adjustable band built into them just below the knee, or simple garters that circle just above the calf, in order to keep your clothes in place as the stockings ride down when you move about. The most comfortable arrangement I've found is to buy heavy (soft) wool stockings that strike almost mid-thigh, turn down the top edge neatly to the top of the knee, and button the band as snugly as good circulation will allow. Expect to adjust them occasionally.

c1770 breeches are tight in the thigh "to shew the fine form of a gentleman's legs" ... and, they are miserable to me as every time you raise your knee high in the field, or sit, the knee band crawls up and must be tugged back into place when you stand. To accommodate this design failing, they were tailored with a voluminous seat. It is not flattering. I once had an event visitor approach me and ask "excuse me, I don't know quite how to put this, but ... is your butt supposed to look that huge?" My reply was "yes, Madam, that was the fashion, in more civilized circles you would not be able to see it as my woolen justacorps (long waistcoat) would cover it, but we are on the Southern Frontier (upper east TN) and style takes a back seat to comfort here." Not a lot has changed.

So, the tighter you tailor them, the more fashionable you look and the less comfortable they will be; and, the finer your woolen stockings, the less they chafe and the faster they are ruined by thorns while hunting. That said, a properly tailored pair of breeches/breeks are a joy afield, as if they do not bind they do not drag at the knees like trews/trousers. You do need to protect your shins, thus the heavy stockings or high boots; but, the tops of the boots should be made of thin leather to keep the boots of reasonable weight, and I find that a laced boot is more comfortable since I can lace the foot tight, tie off, leave movement in the ankle, tie off, then lace the shins to comfort. If you expect to encounter any wet areas, the LL Bean "hunting shoe" (the old style, not the stiffer new version) are hard to beat.

 

[dhermann1]

I've always wondered about all that cloth in the seats of 18th century knee breeches. Makes sense.

 

[bookster1uk]

fftopic:

The term "breeks" is actually still in common usage in Scotland, especially in the central area around Glasgow and Edinburgh (and probably as far north as Dundee and Aberdeen). In my experience it's most often used in an informal, and usually slightly humorous way, to describe any type of trousers, as in:

"Och jings! That dug's tore the erse oot o' ma breeks!"
("Oh dear me! That dog has ripped the seat of one's trousers!")

Basically it's used as an alternative to the more common "troosers".

I've only recently seen it used to refer specifically to tweed breeches on the Bookster site. I had assumed they were borrowing it, in a somewhat tongue in cheek manner, from Scots.

And "trews" are something else again entirely...

PS to the OP - all your gear looks pretty natty! How about a pair of these to go with it:

http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/footwear/78N-hob-nailed-boots.html

We use the term 'Breeks' as our main trouser tailor, who has spent a lifetime specialising insists on using the term and as quoted already we make plus two and plus four variations whose dimensions/widths we vary for our bespoke trouser customers who have their own patterns created. The only problem we have is with the term 'Knickers', which seems to be predominant in the US, especially with vintage golfers and cyclists.
As anybody in the UK knows, this term has an entirely different meaning here, a la Bridget Jones, so we avoid it.We do make womens clothing though I have to admit the idea of making bespoke knickers could have an upside, I doubt I'd be let near our fitting room.Then again considering potential reasons for needing bespoke knickers it might prove to be a horror show ?
I do not have a link but Ian Harold lace up cavalry boots look great with them, and I did have a pair of King Ranch rough out snake proof lace up knee high boots that looked perfect too. I think you are spoiled for choice for great outdoor footwear in the US, in traditional styles. If you prefer shorter boots with hose try Grenson or or other English Derby Boots
I

 

[Doc Average]

We use the term 'Breeks' as our main trouser tailor, who has spent a lifetime specialising insists on using the term and as quoted already we make plus two and plus four variations whose dimensions/widths we vary for our bespoke trouser customers who have their own patterns created. The only problem we have is with the term 'Knickers', which seems to be predominant in the US, especially with vintage golfers and cyclists.
As anybody in the UK knows, this term has an entirely different meaning here, a la Bridget Jones, so we avoid it.We do make womens clothing though I have to admit the idea of making bespoke knickers could have an upside, I doubt I'd be let near our fitting room.Then again considering potential reasons for needing bespoke knickers it might prove to be a horror show ?
I

Thanks for the explanation. I should add that I was amused and pleased to see you use "breeks" on the site. Lets hope it makes its way in to every day parlance!

 

[Puzzicato]

besides wellies and brogues what are appropriate to wear with breeks?

What's wrong with brogues with them? The best turned out men at the game fairs wear breeks, shooting stockings and brogues.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I wear these with breeks and long socks for Bicycling"

 

[Puzzicato]

it just doesn't look right with bean boots

I think your socks throw out the proportions - if the breeks came down to meet the boots, it'd look just fine. Having 2" of sock in between breaks it up too much and that's why it doesn't look right. IMO.