Fashion Friday Dilemma: Pleats or No Pleats?
Fashion Friday tackles one of man’s most troublesome fashion issues: pants. Nothing will make you look bad faster than ill-fitting, unfashionable pants. This dilemma is unique only to the American male (the rest of the world has moved on about 10 years ago.) Pleats or no Pleats, that’s the question.
That’s an easy one for me: No pleats.
First of all, the US is the only country left where yo can find pleated pants for sale outside the Goodwill stores. But let’s put that tidbit aside since, we Americans value our uniqueness and strong individuality. Blah, blah, blah. If we disregard fashion trends and focus on what looks best on a man, the flat-front trousers would win most every time. Here’s the problem with pleats:
1. BBS. Big Bottom Syndrome. Pleats put extra material around your waist thus creating a larger-than-real-life look. Trust me, but most of us don’t need to look any bigger around our rears.
2. DBS. Diaper Bottom Syndrome. Often pleated trousers will have deep pockets requiring extra material. This extra fabric tend to create the diaper effect, making you look like, well, you’re carrying a diaper. It’s called “the seat” and droopy seats are difficult to fix. Unless you’re younger than 18 months or 81 years and older, you shouldn’t go around carrying more junk in your trunk than necessary.
3. SLS. Short Leg Syndrome. Flat fronts help pants look streamlined, therefore longer. Pleats work just the opposite. Unless you have extremely long legs and a tiny torso, then you should stick with flat front trousers. If you have short legs, than the flat-front pants are your best friends.
Bonus tip: No cuffs. Not even in suits.
So where do you stand? Pleats or no pleats?
