When it comes to morning dress, most consideration is typically directed to the morning coat, being a significant investment and the showpiece of the look, but one would be much advised to give one's trouser selection equal thinking time. Of course, if you're opting for a matching morning suit in either charcoal or navy, then you can congratulate yourself for removing a decision from the process, but for all those who prefer the more traditional morning coat and trousers, read on...
When most of us think of morning suit trousers, it is the charcoal grey “Cashmere Stripe” variety that typically springs to mind, those being the most traditional style (they are rarely made from Cashmere - the term refers to the particular striped pattern and not the wool itself). But in fact there are a few different permutations you can consider.
The Cashmere Stripe
The tried and tested, can’t-go-wrong, classic, traditional morning suit trousers. If in doubt, these are your no.1 option and are perfectly suitable for any and every event wherein morning dress is a requirement. While the stripes may differ slightly in width from trouser to trouser, most styles will follow a very similar pattern. Apart from fit, there really isn’t a great deal of aesthetic wiggle room. In other words, you’d have to try very hard to get a pair of cashmere stripe trousers wrong. At Favourbrook, our classic trousers consist of our Cavalry stripe trousers in a high-waisted style with a classic fit and a single pleated front. Cut from soft and lightweight Yorkshire wool in a mid grey, these trousers would contrast beautifully with a black jacket for Ascot or a formal wedding. Designed to be worn with braces, the Cavalry trouser has a fishtail back and is finished with adjustable side tabs at the waist and a button fly. Should you find yourself in a more daring mood, there are some other fabric options that should be on your radar...
ROYAL ASCOT |
GREY WESTMINSTER STRIPE |
Check
The least common of the morning suit trousers, check styles are nevertheless an option, particularIy if you hark from the frozen recesses north of the border! One must be careful that checked trousers don’t appear too gimmicky, so we would suggest opting for a classic Prince of Wales check in a rich but deep green. A windowpane check looks too contemporary for our tastes so keep it traditional and you’ll be able to pull it off. Our Blackwatch Tartan trousers are a perfect alternative to the cashmere stripe or houndstooth, with a high waist, slim flat-fronted style, cut from mid weight Scottish tartan wool. Finishing touches are provided by adjustable waist tabs, zip fly and buttons for braces.
Houndstooth
Increasing popular these days are the black and white houndstooth check trousers. We say black and white, but the houndstooth is subtle enough to make the trousers generally appear a pale grey colour. They can be particularly elegant when worn with a darker waistcoat and while some may consider the houndstooth to be a slightly less formal style, we’re having none of it.
GREY WESTMINSTER STRIPE |
BLACK HOUNDSTOOTH WOOL |
They can be excellent for summer events when one wants a lighter alternative to charcoal grey without going the whole hog with a light grey morning suit a la Prince Charles. Our Houndstooth Trouser is cut from soft and lightweight Yorkshire wool in a black and cream houndstooth weave. Flat-fronted and high-waisted, they have a slim fit leg with adjustable side tabs at the waist, a zip fly, and buttons for braces provide the finishing touches.
