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flat vs. pleated slacks

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techman

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
For business casual and perhaps for more formal business occasions.
Which should I choose, flat or pleated slacks?
I'd like to have a good set of rules when one is more appropriate than the other.
 
#2 ·
Really it simply comes down to personal preference. Pleats are nice if you like having things in your pockets - keys and the like. A bit more comfortable when sitting especially with aforementioned things in your pockets!
 
#4 ·
techman said:
For business casual and perhaps for more formal business occasions.
Which should I choose, flat or pleated slacks?
I'd like to have a good set of rules when one is more appropriate than the other.
Click to expand...
There are no rules.

Neither is more appropriate than the other. Plain front pants are "in", pleated pants are "out."

But fashion is silly, and often ugly. Pleated front pants offer practical advantages compared to plain front pants. They can flatter any build, are more comfortable, and will often even wear better. Plain front pants have plain fronts.

But to obtain these advantages you must wear them properly. I.e., non-fashionably. They must have a high enough rise, be worn loosely enough, and be properly cut and made, which usually costs more since all the cheap stuff is poured into fashion merchandise.
 
#5 ·
I'd agree that getting a decent rise so that the fabric has room to drape before hitting the not-flat areas is key.
I find fully pleated to be too voluminous, but a singled pleat is great. I don't think they are that common in RTW though.
 
#7 ·
Wear what you like. Flat front is more TNSIL, in my estimation. Forward pleats are the best kind of pleated trousers, in my opinion. But ultimately you have to wear what you're comfortable and happy in.
 
#11 ·
I'm 5' 10" but have a 29-30" inseam.

When I've bought pleated pants they were always, or seemed to me, to be too wide at the bottom. It was explained to me that in order to have the pleats more fabric was needed at the top and hence more at the bottom.

I have now switched to almost all plain front pants.
 
#12 ·
FJW said:
I'm 5' 10" but have a 29-30" inseam.

When I've bought pleated pants they were always, or seemed to me, to be too wide at the bottom. It was explained to me that in order to have the pleats more fabric was needed at the top and hence more at the bottom.

I have now switched to almost all plain front pants.
Click to expand...
You should have whatever size cuff opening you prefer, but what you were told is nonsense. There's no reason the legs of pleated pants can't have the same taper as plain front pants.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Or more taper. If the thighs are indeed larger and you want to get to a narrow cuff.
 
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#14 ·
When I joined my father at Chipp in 1960, with the exception of individuals with a pot to hide,everyone had plain front trousers. It was not a rule. It was just what people did. Through the years things have changed, and changed back, and changed........... No rule, just people being influenced by what is "in fashion" at any time. There have always been individuals who liked something and created their own personal style- ignoring what the "fashion of the day" might be. The pleat question - there are standard pleats and reverse pleats- does have a practical aspect. If someone has a large waist, and/or a large seat, the added cloth that is used to create the pleats will give the wearer more room, which translates into comfort. If one is trim, there is no gain. Well cut plain front trousers , in my opinion, look better. What I think does not matter. What you think is all that counts.
Paul Winston
Winston Tailors/ www.chippneckwear.com
 
#15 ·
Try both. Generally, a skinnier person will look better in flat front trousers. However, some people say that a nice pair of pleated trousers can look just as good. I've never seen pleated trousers look good on a skinny person. You would also have to probably pay up to for these type of pleated trousers since they would have to be custom made for your own measurement.
 
#17 ·
I wear a 42x29-30 depending who makes it. I find that BB regent fit flat fronts are a bit snug through the thighs when sitting, but I like the overall fit. My BB Madison pleated pants offer more room in legs. I also find that because I'm a bigger guy some pockets on the flat fronts kind of flair out even though they fit through the waist. I still think well fitted single pleated pants with cuffs look nice.


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#18 ·
techman said:
For business casual and perhaps for more formal business occasions.
Which should I choose, flat or pleated slacks?
I'd like to have a good set of rules when one is more appropriate than the other.
Click to expand...
I think the better question is whether to wear cuffs with flat front slacks. I prefer not to in general although I do have exceptions in my wardrobe.
 
#19 ·
JBierly said:
I think the better question is whether to wear cuffs with flat front slacks. I prefer not to in general although I do have exceptions in my wardrobe.
Click to expand...
This is a question that comes up quite often when we start discussing pleats v flat fronts.

To cuff or not is a personal preference. The current mode seems to be cuffing regardless with a 2-3 inch cuff. That's a bit extreme to me.

With heavier fabrics (flannel, etc.) I prefer a cuff regardless of what's going on up top. So that's my preference.
 
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