Well, that's Trew I guess

[Adoom]

I know this is the General Kilt Talk, so I hope you will allow a touch of two legged talk...
I have been considering getting a pair of Trews, but I'm not sure what I am getting into. I "like" the idea of wearing a pair of Trews with a plain black T or the like, sort of a sub for jeans, but I know that whenever I look for Trews they seem to be dressed with a matching waistcoat or jacket. Thoughts?

[Tobus]

I'm sure those who are more knowledgeable on trews will chime in, but as I understand it, there is a difference between tartan trousers which are built more like regular modern trousers, and real trews which are high-waisted with fishtail back and meant to be worn with braces/waistcoat/jacket. The former is probably what you're looking for, as the latter is more for formal wear.

[Steve Ashton]

It is quite common for any trousers made from Tartan to be called Trews, but full military Trews are a totally different sort of garment from trousers.

Trews will have no seam on the outside of the leg.
They will have a full waist height with fishtails and laces in the back. Think toreador trousers.
They do not have pockets.
They will almost always be worn with braces that are fastened with buttons and are not worn with a belt unless worn without a vest or cummerbund.
They do not have turned up cuffs and may or may not have "The West Point Cut" where the leg bottoms are lower in the back than the front.




Otherwise you have tartan trousers.

[Dr Bee]

It is quite common for any trousers made from Tartan to be called Trews, but full military Trews are a totally different sort of garment from trousers.

Trews will have no seam on the outside of the leg and may or may not have "The West Point Cut" where the leg bottoms are lower in the back than the front.

If you do not select properly styled and tailored trews which will have no seams on the outside of the leg, "West Point Cut" (Cavalry cut in the UK), high waist, fishtail back, buttons for braces etc., you may end up looking like or be thought to be looking like you're wearing the tat trousers once so favoured by golfers.

Proper trews, as described, can be worn with a cummerbund under say a black Argyll jacket or with a Prince Charlie or a Regulation Doublet, either of which will normally come with the appropriate waistcoat. If you wish to wear your own tailored waistcoat in the same cloth and tartan as the trews it really does look better if the waistcoat has the sett biased to the diagonal, otherwise it begins to look like you're wearing some kind of all-over romper suit - then again that's a look which some might prefer.

[Jock Scot]

If you do not select properly styled and tailored trews which will have no seams on the outside of the leg, "West Point Cut" (Cavalry cut in the UK), high waist, fishtail back, buttons for braces etc., you may end up looking like or be thought to be looking like you're wearing the tat trousers once so favoured by golfers.

Proper trews, as described, can be worn with a cummerbund under say a black Argyll jacket or with a Prince Charlie or a Regulation Doublet, either of which will normally come with the appropriate waistcoat. If you wish to wear your own tailored waistcoat in the same cloth and tartan as the trews it really does look better if the waistcoat has the sett biased to the diagonal, otherwise it begins to look like you're wearing some kind of all-over romper suit - then again that's a look which some might prefer.

Exactly so!

[The Wizard of BC]

Yes, I know that the market seems to be going in the direction of Trews with outside seams and pockets but in my experience, with 22 made to measure orders of what are advertised as trews, the product I received did not fit as well, looked less tailored, and were less satisfying to my Regimental customers.

If you truly want Trews, please do your research and find a maker who is willing, and capable of making true Trews and is not bending to the market. Yes, a pair of Trews will cost almost as much as a kilt but remember that you are not buying just any pair of Tartan trousers. Unless of course your goal is to wear Tartan golf trousers.

This is how one leg of Trews are cut. It takes skill, experience, and a good, accurate, set of measurement to construct Trews this way.



You owe it to yourself to be as picky about your Trews as you are about your kilt.

[Father Bill]

Steve, out of pure curiosity what weight/ finish of cloth would normally be used for trews?

Yes, I know that the market seems to be going in the direction of Trews with outside seams and pockets but in my experience, with 22 made to measure orders of what are advertised as trews, the product I received did not fit as well, looked less tailored, and were less satisfying to my Regimental customers.

If you truly want Trews, please do your research and find a maker who is willing, and capable of making true Trews and is not bending to the market. Yes, a pair of Trews will cost almost as much as a kilt but remember that you are not buying just any pair of Tartan trousers. Unless of course your goal is to wear Tartan golf trousers.

This is how one leg of Trews are cut. It takes skill, experience, and a good, accurate, set of measurement to construct Trews this way.



You owe it to yourself to be as picky about your Trews as you are about your kilt.

[Dr Bee]

Yes, I know that the market seems to be going in the direction of Trews with outside seams and pockets but in my experience, with 22 made to measure orders of what are advertised as trews, the product I received did not fit as well, looked less tailored, and were less satisfying to my Regimental customers.

If you truly want Trews, please do your research and find a maker who is willing, and capable of making true Trews and is not bending to the market. Yes, a pair of Trews will cost almost as much as a kilt but remember that you are not buying just any pair of Tartan trousers. Unless of course your goal is to wear Tartan golf trousers.

This is how one leg of Trews are cut. It takes skill, experience, and a good, accurate, set of measurement to construct Trews this way.

You owe it to yourself to be as picky about your Trews as you are about your kilt.

Steve, please reassure me that the "less satisfying" trews you received did not come from G. Livingstone and Son of Castle Douglas in SW Scotland, whose photograph you have used. The current owner of that firm is Andrew Livingston, one of the finest tailors in the UK, and while he does not normally retail kilts or Highland wear, his trews are about the best money can buy - what's more he's been my (non-Highland) tailor for 30 years. He and I shall both be devastated if he was the supplier you meant.

[figheadair]

Trews will have no seam on the outside of the leg.

I've yet to find when and where this tradition arose, probably the military in the mid-late 19th century is my guess.

18th century trews were cut on the bias and were made from sections of cloth meaning that there were diagonal seams in various places. This is the earliest pair of military trews I know of, c1930 if memory serves, they have a seam on the inside and outside of the leg.

[Steve Ashton]

No, that is not the maker I was referring to.

Steve, please reassure me that the "less satisfying" trews you received did not come from G. Livingstone and Son of Castle Douglas in SW Scotland, whose photograph you have used. The current owner of that firm is Andrew Livingston, one of the finest tailors in the UK, and while he does not normally retail kilts or Highland wear, his trews are about the best money can buy - what's more he's been my (non-Highland) tailor for 30 years. He and I shall both be devastated if he was the supplier you meant.