Discuss: spare trousers vs.

[salsatron]

Dear Loungers,

So here is something I have been thinking about a little bit. I frequently see advice that getting a second pair of trousers with a suit is a good idea, because they wear out quicker than the jacket. Fairly obvious, and all very well. However, I've also seen advice that the components of a suit should be exposed to more or less the same environmental conditions (e.g. amount of sun exposure) so the way the colours change etc. remain equal between the different components. Unless the jacket is worn half as often as the trousers (which, to me, kind of defeats the point of wearing a suit), surely these two pieces of advice are opposed to each other. Personally, I quite like to wear odd trousers with my jackets (e.g. typically at work at the moment I am wearing a navy/charcoal jacket, dove waistcoat, and mid-grey striped trousers), so it's not often an issue for me, but I thought I would get the Lounge's thoughts.

Opinions and thoughts?

[hectorm]

Dear Salsatron:
Getting a second pair of trousers when you commission a suit is only one half of the (good) advice. The other half of the advice is to alternate them in their wearing from the start (NOT waiting for their first pair to look frail for starting to wear the second pair).
In this way, since trousers are per se naturally more "exposed" than jackets, the 3 components of your suit will be exposed in a rather evenly matter, and you will never end up with an old looking pair of trousers (compared to the jacket) nor will you have to start with a too new looking pair of trousers (compared once again to the jacket). You might even want to take both trousers with you on trips and alternate them for looking crispy all the time.
I find all these to be good pieces of advice (which I have not always followed myself) and not contradictory.

[Costi]

I thought I would get the Lounge's thoughts.

Still thinkin'...

[Rowly]

While trying different rises, pleat combos etc...I got some suits with extra trousers in different formats. Now that my style is established....I prefer to put the cost of extra trousers towards another suit. I think it is better to have a larger rotation of suits in order to minimise the wear n' tear. I also like more robust cloth which stands a bit of abuse. I suspect that some tailors may take less care over two pairs of trousers , cutting them together, as a short cut. If a particular cloth was very pleasing to me...and to be discontinued...I would definitely consider a second pair, otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much. Each to their own !

[Concordia]

I just got a grey suit in one of A&S's house flannels from Fox. Still mulling over whether to get a second pair for that. It might end up being something of a workhorse for those slightly-less-formal days in the city, and there's often an advantage to being able to choose between braces and a belt. Or, it might be $1,200 better spent somewhere else. It's sort of a nailhead pattern so I wouldn't wear trousers in it with an odd jacket, although it could do fine paired with a sweater.

One time I did get a second pair and sort of regret it was for a summer-weight RAF glen check. Great stuff, but very unlikely to be the suit packed for a business trip.

[Costi]

I'm with you on this, Rowley, for precisely the same reasons.

[davidhuh]

I'm with hectorm here. With a few exceptions, all of my suits have two pairs of trousers. I stress my trousers a lot. My days are often hectic and long, and I can see this on the trousers; Jeeves is not traveling with me

My trouser style is established, but I like to play a little with the second pair. The second might have no turn ups, or a different back, little things like that. In the end, they make my suits more versatile and more interesting.

Sometimes, I make a conscious decision for only one trouser - the LL Brisa chalk stripe for instance will be made up as a 3-piece DB. I don't think to wear it very often, this is one reason; I also think I should be able to combine the DB coat with a trouser in a different material.

Cheers, david