The London Lounge

I have seen Db both with and without turn ups. It seems that a DB, to be correct needs to have them. However, I feel that, depending on cloth, pattern, etc...they can look good with or without, as do SB suits. Do you let your eye decide...or are there rules to follow? What are your views on PTU's? ....thanks.

no turn up -> looks 'cleaner' -> more formal -> no cuffs on trousers of city suits, morning dress or evening dress
turn up -> visually 'noisy' -> less formal -> put cuffs on odd trousers & trousers of casual suits.

I always get turn ups. This way when I eat my croissant in the morning the crumbs fall in them and I can have free snacks by 11. That and I feel it looks better and gives better shape to both legs and pants.

I feel that the added visual bulk of the DB requires cuffs to balance out the look.

Pssst wrote:no turn up -> looks 'cleaner' -> more formal -> no cuffs on trousers of city suits, morning dress or evening dress

Just because the most formal of suits (full dress; morning; dinner) do not take turn-ups in their trousers, it does not mean that trousers without turn-ups will make a lounge or office suit more formal.
I´ve seen a few DB suits without turn-ups (almost always the trick of a shorter man) and in my eye they don´t look cleaner, they look unfinished and unbalanced. Turn-ups add weight to the bottom of the trousers which I think plays well with front pleats and a DB jacket.

For another data point, I recently decided to order a DB suit, and I was encouraged by my tailor to add turn-ups to the trousers. That was fine with me, and I was told they can always be taken out later if I end up having second thoughts (which I doubt I will).

Usually, I get 2 pairs of trousers made with every coat. One pair, regardless of SB or DB, comes with turn ups, the second without. When the cloth is light, the PTU pair is falling better.

cheers, David

Not strictly pertinent to the DB question, but to cuffs on linen trousers - I've come to prefer the more fluid way in which non-cuff linen trousers move when walking (standing, I like them both equally). There seems to be more spring and bounce in the linen when less weighed down at the heel.

Probably personal choice but DB does look better with. However a shorter prison for whom turn-ups are not ideal should not be put off DB because of this.

Gentlemen.. I find that most of my DB suits are quite a heavy fabric and therefore the turn-up works rather well..
with vintage suits its also quite pleasing to have quite a deep turnup and the look and break of the trouser leg looks perfect with my braces adjusted to perfection!!..

Regards

I'm not sure that there are any 'rules' about it as such. Edward VII started off turn-ups as a practical measure to keep his trews clean and it became a fashion. George V didn't like his wayward eldest son following the practice but follow it he did. There are actually pictures of Joseph Chamberlain in morning trousers with turn-ups but turn-ups on formal trousers are not very usual at all.

Usually, I get turn-ups on my db suits. In this case, I neglected to specify assuming they would be done. I think, in future I will insist on them. I am reassured that it is not considered wrong to be without them. I don't usually get a second pair of trousers..but in this case..I will follow David's advice.Thanks to you all !

I generally get cuffs on all my suit trousers, but that's just me. I just prefer the way they drape better.

The up-turned cuffs in my trousers (before I eschewed them) occasionally tripped me up as they caught on obstacles. Prosaic stuff, granted.

Gentlemen
In my opinon I have "Cuffs" (as we say on this side of the pond) or Turn Up's as you say on all of my suitings & dress pants. It seems to me that the following effects take place:
1. It completes the balance between the jacket & pants, there is a form of symetry & balance effected.
2. It finalizes the form and appearence of the trousers, it completes them not letting the trousers look that they
go off to infinity in another realm 1/2 here the other 1/2 somewhere else.
3. It just lets me go back to that feeling of the elegant period of mens suitings of the past.
Well there you have it, my thoughts on a interesting observation in the life of a suit.
Cheers everyone!