In the everyday drama of getting dressed, some clothes are meant to play only a supporting role. A gray flannel trouser does not create wonder wherever it goes. Traffic does not stop, heads do not turn. Even your most enthusiastic friends are unlikely to say “Wow, look at those spectacular trousers!” No. Gray flannel trousers are the background detail in the landscape of your style.
But because of them, the elements in the foreground – the cut of your navy blazer, your crunchy tweed jacket, your Santoni deerskin sneakers – are thrown into even greater relief.
This was always the purpose of flannel trousers. Years ago, flannels were a basic part of the well-dressed man’s wardrobe. They were the original sportswear, like gentleman’s jeans.
Today, flannels have been universally supplanted by chinos and denim. But let’s face it – the high-low thing that’s become an office staple, for the last decade is looking tired. We all do it, but it’s beginning to get a bit lazy – the feeling of being just like every other half-dressed man around.
What’s good about gray flannel is that it is a convention-busting cloth that gives an uptick in smartness even when you’re wearing a peacoat and sneakers. And if gray flannel can work wonders with sneakers and a sweater just as easily as a jacket and tie, you can relax, because you no longer have to think about whether you’re dressing up or not.