Let's talk TREWS!!!!!

[JohntheBiker]

I'm confused about why Trews with a fish tail would be preferred to tartan trousers. Wouldn't this fact be obscured by most jackets anyway? I'm also confused about why other tartan trousers would be disqualified as being called Trews since it's simply the Scots word for trousers that is derived from the Gaelic Trubhas (pronounced "trews".

The original skin tight Neil Gow style trews don't seem to be worn anymore so why are tartan trousers with a regular cut and waist not considered trews by some? They are sold as trews by some Highland outfitters.

Trews with fish tail back have a much higher waist, suitable for wear with a PC or a formal military jacket. Tartan trousers are cut like, well, trousers.

[okiwen]

And more...

[okiwen]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60765326@N07/6399538693/

Perhaps to combine two current threads, this one shows the first fitting of a Scottish jacket to be worn with the trews (trousers from my view).

Well, look at this quote, the cutter agrees with me. This was later in his post.

"So really they are tartan trousers not proper trews, mostly we make them with plain fronts and the legs are cut quite slim and self supporting with a normal body rise. We have made military trews with no side seam which take quite a bit of iron work. In the past I have got talked into making trews for the KOSB regiment that needed the white check to be round the hem. (it was darted in the front to add angle)."

[Nathan]

I was recently gifted with a pair of vintage trousers (early 1970s) in 13 oz twill Macdonald ancient tartan. They are too small for me but I was going to find them a home. Are they suitable to be worn with any kind of Highland attire? They aren't golf trousers.

[freddie]

Thank You Jock Scot,
They would be worn for dinner in the dinning room and not super in the kitchen.
I have seen these "trews" online that have belt loops. To my understanding trews are worn with braces not a belt, correct?

You're thinking of Argyll trews as opposed to military fishtail trews which are always worn with braces, The Argyll trews have a high kilt waist (unlike tartan trousers which sit on the hips) and have wide belt loops for a proper kilt belt. I think that fishtail trews were designed for sitting down in (mess dinners) and because you don't wear them with a belt you need braces (suspenders) to keep them up.

[Wil]

You're thinking of Argyll trews as opposed to military fishtail trews which are always worn with braces, The Argyll trews have a high kilt waist (unlike tartan trousers which sit on the hips) and have wide belt loops for a proper kilt belt. I think that fishtail trews were designed for sitting down in (mess dinners) and because you don't wear them with a belt you need braces (suspenders) to keep them up.

Thank You Freddie for the clarification

[theborderer]

In the Scottish Military, soldiers wore Brogues with trews, Officers wore Chelsea boots for functions because their trews were narrow at the ankle, otherwise they also wore Brogues with Trews. Trews sometimes had beltloops for barrack wear during mild weather. (See ebay.co.uk military trews)

[Braw Cathairneach]

Jock Scot's opening comment is of critical importance in evaluating trews. If you are not slim and your weight is not stable, don't even consider trews. Any girth and trews will be demonstrably unflattering.

I would wear them if I could and I'm envious of those that can.

Timely advice and much appreciated. I've been contemplating trews for a very long time. The delay as been due to being anorexically-challenged. Was about to order a set a next weekends' games. Your advice saved me money as well as dignity.

[Bruce Scott]

In the Scottish Military, soldiers wore Brogues with trews, Officers wore Chelsea boots for functions because their trews were narrow at the ankle, otherwise they also wore Brogues with Trews. Trews sometimes had beltloops for barrack wear during mild weather. (See ebay.co.uk military trews)

This is still the case and the various trews orders of dress for the Royal Regiment of Scotland can be seen here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22636965/T...ss-Regulations

[figheadair]

To Illustrate the difference with tartan trousers, here are a pair c1840.



Straight leg, button drop fly etc.