Pleated pants

When are pleated pants most appropriate?
Would they have been most in evidence in the 30's? 40's?
Would they be worn with a single breasted suit or double breasted.
Sometimes it's hard to tell in the old pictures if the pants have pleats or not. Is there a fashion rule of thumb?

Big Joe

Trousers with deep cavernous pleats really took off after WWII since the rationing had ended. I've seen alot of flat front pants from 30's, but I don't know what the popularity ratio was versus pants with pleats.

Ah, the pleated debate again!

You will find that pleated pants started to become popular in the early 30’s. If you watch the 1933 WB’s film 42nd Street, you’ll see most pants are pleated. That was one of the first years that I saw the fad in the 30’s really be portrayed. Inverse or outward pleats were all over the US and UK and other parts of Europe in the 30’s. They weren’t as deep as the pleats of the post war years (1946-1956) but, they were there! I have an original ivory flannel pair of pants with the side adjusting straps with a button fly. I know they’re early because of the NRA tag in the back pocket (National Recovery Act. FDR’s New Deal of 1934-1936) these pants also have outward facing pleats.

I have suits from the 40’s that are single breasted that have pleats and some that do not. I also have double breasted suits that have pleats and some that don’t! It was generally up to the individual taste of the wearer. Some men liked them and some didn’t. Most of the movies I see are a general mix of both. The deep pleats were often seen on young men of the ages of 16-21.

Pleated trousers are thought of as being dressier; I don’t feel that they are. Seeing most anything other then a T-Shirt and jeans are dressy by today’s standards.

If the pant is made correctly and worn at the right place (on the natural waist) then, the pleats hang nice and give a graceful line into the crease.

I hope that clears up your question Big Joe! Any other questions I’m happy to answer you if you’d like to drop me a PM any time.

=WR=

Big Joe said:

When are pleated pants most appropriate?
Would they have been most in evidence in the 30's? 40's?
Would they be worn with a single breasted suit or double breasted.
Sometimes it's hard to tell in the old pictures if the pants have pleats or not. Is there a fashion rule of thumb?

Big Joe

Click to expand...

Heh, heh.
I like these questions.

Questions like these, are what men like us should be pondering at red lights, or while waiting in line at the supermarket.

Heh, heh.


EC

"Re-enacting is the only hobby where men discuss fashion,"
- Anon.


Big Joe

Heh,...ok.
Anon must have been a lousy dresser.




All of life is a re-enactment.


EC

I am making my own pants and was wondering if single forward pleats were ever acceptable during the golden era? I have seen tons of flat fronts and double pleats but am wondering what the downside would be of leaving out the second smaller pleat.

Fully acceptable and also often used.

Belloqinabush said:

...what the downside would be of leaving out the second smaller pleat.

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no downside, unless your girth is such that you need the extra ease around that area. i prefer the look of single forward pleats.
here's a vintage pair (not mine) :

pleated pants are appropriate any time. I find them much more comfortable than flat fronts.

I do however prefer single forward pleats to The popular reverse and double reverse pleats.

Forward pleats are very Hard to find I bought 4 pair of Corbins that I saw on -line that were being discontinued.

pleats YES!!!

"John"

now those are Nice pants !!!!! pleat is in the right direction.

"J"

Belloqinabush said:

I am making my own pants and was wondering if single forward pleats were ever acceptable during the golden era? I have seen tons of flat fronts and double pleats but am wondering what the downside would be of leaving out the second smaller pleat.

Click to expand...

No downside, they look great.

Are you creating your own pattern draft then? Don't forget to post photos of the result!