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From: "Lizzie Love" <>
Subject: Re: Clothing in USA from late 1800's to 1920's
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 10:42:10 +0100
References: <40C44FE6.2994.247124AE@localhost> <000001c44d2f$922beb50$fa5236d2@Abyssinian>


Trousers were ironed flat, from side to side until late in the 19C, (by your
valet) because nobody had thought to do otherwise. The trouser-press was
invented in the 1890s and presumably somebody experimented, but it didn't
catch on. The trousers were too narrow for a crease to last very long. They
began to widen in the first years of Edward's reign and the side-to-side
look may have appeared a little odd ... especially on a portly, not to say
corpulent king. Fore and aft creases slimmed down a gentleman's silhouette,
and also demonstrated that the wearer could afford trousers perfectly cut on
the straight of the cloth. Anyone who has tried to press a pair of cheap
cricket flannels will know why!!

Turn-ups arrived around this time, although the first MP to wear them to the
House of Commons was ridiculed.

Lizzie

> Carol Anne - I believe that King Edward VII established the short-lived
> custom of having trousers creased at the sides. Until then, trousers
> weren't creased at all which made for a generally baggy look. I don't
know
> who first put the fore and aft creases in, or when it was done.
>
> Stan, in New Zealand
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- > I'm sure that Edward Vll di, (tried to),
> establish a fashion with trouser creases, but
> > I'm rather hazy about the details.
>
>
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