Flat-front or pleated, drawstring or button? There are certain features that define Suitsupply’s signature style of classic tailoring with modern flair—each with its own unique look and function. Step into the basics and learn how to spot the accents you need to pull off the style you want with our guide to trouser details.
Find Some Closure
Extended Tab — A classic tailoring detail for a more refined appeal.
Extended Tab
An extended tab closure brings a little flair to your waistband. Unlike a traditional closure, which consists of a centered single button and eyelet, extended tab closures feature an off-center closure and can be as simple as a button off by a few inches, or no button at all, as seen in our gurkha-style waistband. The style you opt for will influence the overall look and vibe of your outfit, infusing some elevated sartorial flair or keeping it versatile and classic, so choose wisely.
The Gurkha — Inspired by 19th century Nepalese military style, the gurkha trades the buttons for a clean front & side adjusters.
The Gurkha
Few waistbands are as dynamic and unique as the gurkha. This standout style emerged from a 19th century alliance—both a military and a stylistic one. Rooted in British military tradition, this closure was modified specifically for use by the elite Nepalese soldiers fighting for the crown. This traditional fastening system is defined by it's characteristic double-pleated front and high, cummerbund-style waistband featuring buckles emerging from within the waistband on the left hip. Though functionally intricate, this sartorially style offers a clean front and aesthetically minimalist appeal when worn with a jacket.
Drawstring — A practical hallmark of laid-back, leisurely style.
Drawstring
While mainly found on leisure and athletic wear, a drawstring closure has recently found its way onto more and more trousers regarded as elevated casual styles, like our Ames fit. Commonly available with flat, knotted or metal tips, a drawstring closure is pulled to tighten an elastic waistband and fastened in a classic bow knot. The result is an unmistakeably easygoing aesthetic that works as well with a shirt and jacket for a casual office as it does with a knit for the weekend.
A Pocket for Every Occasion
Slant Front Pocket — Set into the trousers at an angle, these pockets allow you to easily slide your hands in & out.
Some pockets are functional, others are purely aesthetic—but all have their unique appeal. We’ve come a long way from medieval hanging leather and cloth pouches. Today, pockets can be as varied as a fine slitted coin pocket on a waistband to an oversized patch pocket on a pair of cargos. When it comes to the classics, however, our trousers feature a range of side pocket styles and rear jetted pockets with and without a flap closure. Whether they’re for the boardroom or taproom, low-key weekend or high-end wedding, we’ve got a pair to fit you, and the occasion, perfectly.
Jetted Back Pocket — Though functional, these slitted pockets are best regarded as a style detail.
Belt Loops or Side Adjusters
Belt Loops — One of the most versatile ways of fastening your waistband, loops can be found on everything from denim jeans to elevated chinos.
Side Adjusters — On more upscale pairs, you’ll typically find the belt loops traded in for side adjusters, a more elevated way to fasten your trousers.
Waistbands, and the way in which they’re secured, have become another area where style can be expressed. With inspiration ranging as far back as 19th century military style to today’s modern trends, the way in which you keep your trousers up is as varied as any other style detail you’re bound to find on a pair of quality trousers.
Finding the Right Rise
High Rise — If you’re on the shorter side and looking to add the illusion of height, high-rise trousers like our Duca fit are your best bet. Typically reaching just below the navel, high-rise pairs are meant to be worn at the waist.
High Rise — If you’re on the shorter side and looking to add the illusion of height, high-rise trousers like our Duca fit are your best bet. Typically reaching just below the navel, high-rise pairs are meant to be worn at the waist.
Defined as the distance from the top of the waistband to the seam where the crotch meets the legs, different rises provide a different aesthetic, complement certain heights better, and are best paired with the proper occasion. Mid-rise trousers, like jeans and chinos tend to lean toward the casual side, offering more versatility than other rises and fitting well on those of just about any height. Par contre, higher rises, as found primarily in business and evening wear, provide a more formal look. Rise can accentuate your body type—generally speaking, low-rise pants rests at the hip bones, mid-rise between the navel and hip, and high-rise at the natural waistline, so be sure to go with the pair the rises to the occasion for you, both in style and in comfort.
Low Rise — Worn at your hips, low rise pants are cut to sit well below your natural waistline and provide a sportier, more casual look.
Low Rise — Worn at your hips, low rise pants are cut to sit well below your natural waistline and provide a sportier, more casual look.
Choosing Your Cuff
Turn-ups — A classic tailoring detail for a more refined appeal.
The way your trousers are finished at the hem can do a lot to give you a formal, polished look or a more easygoing appeal. When it comes to common styles, there are three main forms to focus on. The turn-up—otherwise known as cuffed, this hem tends to offer a more sartorial, style-focused astheitc. A broad turn-up, cut high, will naturally offer the illusion of shorter legs, so think twice about a bold cuff if you’re already on the shorter side. A plain hem is just what it sounds like, a classic straight leg with no cuff. This is perhaps the most versatile of all hem finishes; classic or contemporary, perfect for any height, style and occasion. Finally, elastic. Though more common on leisure and athletic wear, elastic hems are increasingly found on more refined pairs, adding a subtle touch of sporty, easygoing appeal to any look.
Elastic Cuff — A leisurewear staple, now found on smart casual style trousers.
Plain — An uncuffed leg is the more classic style and most versatile of finishes.
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