Why fall-front trousers?

[Nick D]

I'm working on a pair of trousers for my wife right now with a fall front, and I've been looking at pictures of old US Navy uniform trousers for details. It got me thinking, why did the Navy continue to use the fall-front decades after it had been in general use? Is there some advantage of the design which made it particularly suitable for the navy, or was it just a continuing tradition?

 

[Cobden]

The Royal Navy got rid of them in the 60's, but it was largely because of tradition - sailors wore fall fronted trousers and it wasn't the done thing to suggest otherwise! Old sailors I've talked to mention that the fall front design made them easier to remove when underwater, but I'm not sure this is a reason, logical, true, or even sensible!

 

[Treetopflyer]

If you are referring to the “Flap” with the 13 buttons on the dress blues, it is simply traditional. The dress blues or ‘Cracker Jacks’ are the only USN uniform that have the flap with the 13 buttons. All others are one button with a zipper, even the dress whites.