I'm still new to this forum. I read that the general consenus is that pinstripes are usually reserved for business suits, however, I've noticed that stores in malls are starting to sell pinstripe trousers. Is this a faux pas in style? And if you do wear one of these pinstripe pants, does it mean you can't wear it w/ a blazer, sportcoat as it'll look like you have a suit pants on?
pinstripe pants and a blazer?
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nbnguy98
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I'm still new to this forum. I read that the general consenus is that pinstripes are usually reserved for business suits, however, I've noticed that stores in malls are starting to sell pinstripe trousers. Is this a faux pas in style? And if you do wear one of these pinstripe pants, does it mean you can't wear it w/ a blazer, sportcoat as it'll look like you have a suit pants on?
The pin stripe trouser worn with a blazer look nothing like suit pants
I have seen grey, beige, and blue pin stripes in cotton, silk, linen, and blends of all three. The grey and beige would be appropriate for wear with a navy blazer. The blue with a grey or beige jacket. My favorite pin stripe for wear in early spring or fall is a white flannel with blue pin stripes. They are really summer trousers, but you would have to live in a northern clime to wear them in the summer. They are BB Country Club for wear with a navy blazer.
I have seen grey, beige, and blue pin stripes in cotton, silk, linen, and blends of all three. The grey and beige would be appropriate for wear with a navy blazer. The blue with a grey or beige jacket. My favorite pin stripe for wear in early spring or fall is a white flannel with blue pin stripes. They are really summer trousers, but you would have to live in a northern clime to wear them in the summer. They are BB Country Club for wear with a navy blazer.
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I don't believe in wearing pinstripes outside of a business suit, but that seems to have been forgotten. People now don't hesitate to wear pinstripe suits to weddings. I've seen odd pinstripe trousers and sports coats, but it's very fashion forward. If you want an alternative to plain trousers, try a black and white glen plaid. Those work very well with a navy blazer. Try to look at the origins of the clothes we wear and whether they came from sporting wear or military uniforms. Our business suits came from both places, but pinstripes are one of the few things that originated in business wear. I think they need to stay there.
I agree but I'm 51. Pinstripe pants are everywhere if you're a young guy. To me they look like an orphaned pair of suit pants.
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I wear black pinstripe pants all the time... when I mow the lawn.
The only way I wear pinstripes separately is when the suits/pants wear out and the clothes become work items. It makes you a well dressed mechanic/landscaper/handyman.
The only way I wear pinstripes separately is when the suits/pants wear out and the clothes become work items. It makes you a well dressed mechanic/landscaper/handyman.
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If I'm not mistaken, the origin of the lounge suit did not progress in a straight line, and the term, a suit of clothes originally did not necessarily equate to a jacket and trousers of the same fabric. When that finally did become most common, the odd jacket (Our sports coat.) and the complimentary, but non-matching trousers were born from parts of different suits worn together, often after one was orphaned.
As such, striped trousers have been worn with solid color jackets, periodically, ever since the evolution of the lounge suit, and even before that when the frock coat was the custom. And I have no problem with it, as long as the trousers and jacket compliment each other, and don't encroach too closely upon the realms of formal day dress or business wear.
There seems to be a tendency to label any stripe as a pinstripe, even when it's not. Most of the odd trousers I've seen are pencil stripes and in colors and fabrics such as those described by dfloyd, and could hardly ever be confused with the trousers from a banker's suit. I don't happen to have any striped casual trousers, but I don't know that I find anything the matter with them, the above caveats pertaining.
As such, striped trousers have been worn with solid color jackets, periodically, ever since the evolution of the lounge suit, and even before that when the frock coat was the custom. And I have no problem with it, as long as the trousers and jacket compliment each other, and don't encroach too closely upon the realms of formal day dress or business wear.
There seems to be a tendency to label any stripe as a pinstripe, even when it's not. Most of the odd trousers I've seen are pencil stripes and in colors and fabrics such as those described by dfloyd, and could hardly ever be confused with the trousers from a banker's suit. I don't happen to have any striped casual trousers, but I don't know that I find anything the matter with them, the above caveats pertaining.
I have two striped trousers (pin and chalk), although do not wear them with a sportscoat often, I have done in the past and will continue too; normally wear them with a coat or with just a sweater.
Obviously wearing navy pinstripes with a navy sportscoat may look like orphan suit trousers, but with a navy blazer they would not; well in my opinion anyway.
Obviously wearing navy pinstripes with a navy sportscoat may look like orphan suit trousers, but with a navy blazer they would not; well in my opinion anyway.
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Hmm, navy pinstripe pants with a navy blazer? Did I read that right?
RL have paired a navy blazer with navy trousers (different shade) before and done it well; by using striped trousers (different shade to the blazer), you are clearly not trying to make it look like a suit. Add a light plain sweater, striped shirt (white shirt, dark stripe) and a light pocket pocket square.
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oooh! A very tricky look. Noel Coward did it well......
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Fair enough. Does sound very tricky, but would love to see it.
I cannot believe that you guys have not heard that black coat, striped trousers and white shirt with starched collars, waistcoat, regimental or old school tie or a silver tie is a uniform which is very old. Have a look at Ronald Coleman wearig one in Flusser's Dressing the Man; read Funeral in Berlin to know that it is the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office uniform. It is far from the latest fad for the young man.
Wearing navy coat, or blazer is pretty adjacent to the black coat. So what is the problem?
Wearing a jacket of one colour and trousers of another predates the lounge suit by a long way.
Wearing navy coat, or blazer is pretty adjacent to the black coat. So what is the problem?
Wearing a jacket of one colour and trousers of another predates the lounge suit by a long way.
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Those stripes are not pinstripes so they can't be compared.
Matt,
I know what you mean but have look at the picture of Ronald Coleman on page 94. The trouser is a pinstripe of the type that everyone is talking about. He looks completely correct.
I know that you are in the business of recreating genuine vintage clothes. Surely you must have come across this look in researches?
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I do not currently have access to my books, but my recollection is that the photo you mention of Mr. Coleman is of what is known as "banker's stripes." The pattern currently known as "pinstripes" that is so closely associated with business in the USA are thinner and spaced more widely apart than are banker's stripes.
No- have a look and see for yourself. These are pinstripes and quite wide apart. I think he wore them because they must have been 'correct'. The whole mood of the outfi he wears is of conformity and conservatism.
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As I mentioned, I do not have access to my books right now so I am going to have to proceed based on my recollection, and that is that the stripes are approximately this close together.
[Holds up thumb and forefinger pressed tightly together]
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Looks bad IMO, like you're trying to double the wear of your suit trousers.. I was in a department store yesterday prominently displaying Ed Hardy t-shirts also, but I resisted the urge to jump on that bandwagon also, lol
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