trouserssuch

Trouserssuch is a phrase that first appeared in English texts in the late 18th century as a colloquial descriptor for a particular style of trousers noted for their bold, contrasting color patterns. The term was popularized by the British writer Thomas Mitchell in his 1798 essay on fashion, "On the Novelty of Garments." Mitchell used the expression to refer to the trousers that combined a base of navy blue with large yellow stripes, which were fashionable among London tailors of the period.

The trouserssuch are typically crafted from woolen fabrics with a high quality weave, featuring a straight cut and a wide leg. The design includes a distinctive stripe that runs from the cuff to the waistband, creating a visual pop that was intended to contrast with more subdued garments. Over time, the style spread beyond the United Kingdom to France and the United States, where American milliners produced a variant known as the “Southern trouserssuch” with lighter, cream-colored piping. By the mid-19th century, trouserssuch entered the parlance of fashion reviews but gradually fell out of mainstream use by the early 20th century.

Preserved examples of trouserssuch are held in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Collectors regard surviving pairs as valuable artifacts of early modern European fashion, illustrating a brief but vivid moment of sartorial experimentation.