50's Dress Slacks -- What To Look For?

[Deleted member 16736]

I have a blue-black wool houndstooth jacket that can pass for 50's, and now I need a pair of 50's-style black wool dress slacks to go with it. What should I look for? Thank you.

 

[DamianM]

I dont know?
Can't you just buy original Slacks in blue or black?

 

[Deleted member 16736]

I'm too tall. It's very hard for me to find vintage slacks with a 32" inseam. Plus you never know if it's really going to fit until it's bought and paid for. I'd rather buy a new pair. I've figured out I need double pleats, but I was hoping I could get some help with the leg width, type of belt loops (skinny vs. regular), and cuff height. And if anybody had a recommendation for a vintage repro, I'd take it. I am aware of www.oldwoogies.com and will probably end up just ordering a pair of slacks from there. But new ideas/suggestions are always welcome. Thanks.

 

[DamianM]

Okay 32 inseam is really hard to come by and your right that if you want 50s slacks get the repros.

 

[Chasseur]

I have a 32" inseam and I've had decent luck with 1950 vintage trousers on ebay. Most of the time even if they are a bit short you can get away with false cuffs (I've done that a couple of times with 29 and 30" inseam vintage trousers). Just a thought.

 

[DamianM]

I have a 32" inseam and I've had decent luck with 1950 vintage trousers on ebay. Most of the time even if they are a bit short you can get away with false cuffs (I've done that a couple of times with 29 and 30" inseam vintage trousers). Just a thought.

True. forgot to mention that.

False cuffs could be fancied

 

[Mr Badger]

I've had great luck with very high waisted, Hollywood-style slacks in the US chain store K&G – some poly-gabs are heavy enough and have the quality, others just look 'orrible and feel as ugly, but they're deffo worth a try...

And also on the 'bay – not the dodgy-looking repros that seem quite a lot of money, rather via looking at lots of 'pleated slacks' and 'cuffed pants' – these black linen pants were $8.99 and they're actually really cool!

Slightly dropped belt loops and/or double loops are a good way of knowing that modern pants have a vintage high-waisted cut. The modern 'mainstream' slacks I've picked up at K&G and on the 'bay all have details like these, plus good cuffs, triple inverse pleats and slash pockets right on the pant seam – guess you could call 'em 'zoot' style but they're deffo still 'dress pants'...

 

[Deleted member 16736]

K&G was a great suggestion. I found many appropriate slacks. The ones to get are generally labelled "wide-leg" and feature double-pleats in most cases, though the belt loops don't look to be dropped on these. Both pairs have slash pockets right on the pant seam. Here's one in navy:

http://www.kgstores.com/shop/pd_sea...053_59738_-1_59653_300044523__MEN?cm_vc=63122

And one in taupe:

http://www.kgstores.com/shop/pd_fub...053_59738_-1_59653_300130289__MEN?cm_vc=63122

I am shocked that these are available in a mass market store. Vintage has truly gone mainstream. Do they look high-waisted?

 

[Mr Badger]

It's difficult to tell how high the rise is from the pics... amazingly, the ones I've picked up there were MUCH more vintage styled, you probably be better off trying to actually visit a store, as they do have a lot of end of line items, and prolly only put a fraction of things on the website – for instance, I bought a pair of Sean John pants that have double belt loops, quad pleats, slash pockets, etc... hang on, lemme see if I can take a coupla snaps with my good wife's phone!

Okay, these are the Sean John pants I got from K&G, as you can see, they're much more ornate:

And here are two shots of those $8.99 Ebay pants, which are a kinda slubby lightweight rayon-linen mix – they're just really nice:

 

[Deleted member 16736]

The nearest store is in Mississippi, so it's the website for now. Thanks for those pictures. They are nice. Thanks.

 

[Mr Badger]

The nearest store is in Mississippi, so it's the website for now. Thanks for those pictures. They are nice. Thanks.

No problems – I should think that any gents' outfitters in a predominantly African-American part of town would be a good place to start the search for some pants. Beside all of the garish stuff, these stores usually have a fantastic array of odds & ends of stock, reasonable prices and, in my personal experience, a much warmer welcome and higher level of customer service than usual.