If you live in New York, you had better watch out. Blogger and man about town Mr. Mordechai Rubinstein has signed on as ACL’s chief trend correspondent, shit, he’s the chief correspondent period. His first report is something that has been on the radar for some time, but the practice of rolling up one’s trousers is still going strong with the fashion crowd. Mister Mort’s quirky sensibilities and great eye capture the style out in the wild. Note the first gent pictured, that’s Men.Style.com’s Josh Peskowitz – who’s desk was profiled way back when. Mister Mort’s trend report after the jump.
Austin men have taken this trend to heart for the past couple of years. Not sure how many will show off great shoes – flipflops still predominate in June. Apparently some days the practicalities of surviving hot temperatures outweigh style considerations.
Lately I feel like a dweeb if I don’t cuff or roll up my pants. Dressed-up or casual, it’s all I wanna do.
Anyone picking up on all of my internal linking? I’m almost as bad as Gawker!
ACL
No mention of those clever little buttons that let you uncuff your trousers to unleash all the errant crumbs from last night’s cakes and cookies…a must!
I attribute the trend to Thom Browne, who will still have a company come Jan 1st 2010
Have a company or be making and selling goods?
Mr. Mort knows all and tells only some.
Most of these “gentleman” don’t get it, their pants are rolled up way too high and it makes them lose that masculine edge that makes us men a man. Some just haven’t done it properly such as our friend wearing the hat and suspenders who seems to carelessly, though I’m sure deliberately rolled up his jeans looking like they are ready to unravel at any minute….which also reflects his careless choice of the rest of his “outfit”. How can you botch up rolling up a pair of pants? Seems like it’s not that hard based on these slipshod jobs pictured here. These so called men who would like to delight in disorder are really only making themselves look silly. The only one that gets close is the asian dude in the flea market wearing a plaid shirt, he seems to have rolled his pants in an unaffected, utilitarian way – because they are too long. All these other guys seem to just be jumping on to this “trend”.
I’m down with rolling the pants, but I am not down with flip flops. They’re never okay.
This look has been very prominent on the streets of London this winter. Classic brogues, crazy socks and high rolled/tailored raw denim jeans, with a barbour… or to that effect.
The one (I mean one) great thing about a rolled trouser is the prominence of the shoes or boots being worn. Other than that you look like your in
Dexy’s Midnight Runners and you voluntarily make
your own legs look stubby or stubbier than they already are.
I can only justify, and not feel ridiculous, rolling my pants up if it’s oppressively hot out or I’m getting my feet wet. Personal preference I guess.
Q: Would you also pull your pants down if everybody else was doing it? What is the significance of such a design “inspiration”? Would the men who won World War II (whose style sense is lauded endlessly here and all across the interwebs) even be discussing the subject? G.I. Joe: Hey, Harry, in two weeks we got R&R in Tokyo. What’re you gonna do? Harry: I’m gonna roll up my trouser hems, find some boutique flip flops and hit some trendy shops. Of course.
Steve,
Harry would probably see the sights, get hammered, smoke cigarettes and maybe frequent a brothel or two. Because all his buddies were doing the same. How do you know all the gents pictured aren’t partaking in feats of masculinity WITH their pants rolled up?
Not trying to be a dick, just food for thought. I’m probably still salty that my wife called my Bean tote a “manbag” when I came home from the gym yesterday.
Charles
i can think of a few times when it is forgivable to roll up, this being one…
James, are we supposed to be looking at the trousers or the ever present C.T.?
I’m done with this look already!
james –
i cant seem to get through a day without mentioning, or at least thinking about, dr. no…or goldfinger.
cripes that honey rider is a looker.
also nice: the submariner on grosgrain strap on bonds left wrist.
not nice: the opening scene in goldfinger in which bond dons the baby blue terry cloth booty short onsie.
also also nice: when bond slaps girl on ass in above scene while telling her to “run along. man talk.”
i could go on but ill spare you all my incessant ramblings.
Reminds me of my teens wearing my Bugle Boy pants. We wore them pegged, first folding over the excess fabric and then rolling up three times, to just above the ankle.
So glad I’m older so I don’t have to feel like I have to fit in anymore.
I’ve always noted this as a short guy thing. Any of these guys more than 5 ft 8?
(Double demin maybe, but I wouldn’t say he’s rockin’ the look)
Internal linking is the future. The FUTURE! I also like the pics and the roll ups.
I enjoy this, when and only when it comes naturally. When is this you ask? When someone comments on the fact that your trousers are rolled up, the question seem’s out of place.
Strong work Mort!
So good to see your photos here.
Looking forward to more,
A
I love this look. It really makes your shoes pop.
def feeling the style. Sometimes dude’s roll the cuff too high and it looks a bit ridiculous, but it’s pretty classy when done right. And it makes you look taller.
looks okay by me as a functional look, as in you just jumped from the canoe/sailboat onto the dock/land, but as a fashion statement for the city? i’m not feelin’ it. i do agree with comfortably smug that this is most likely a way for the everyman to achieve a thom browne look, but i don’t think the tb look was ever quite warranted.
Not that it was ever really okay, but seriously, this was pervasive at least three years ago, perhaps four. Tried it once when I was a teenager, and my wise grandmother asked if I was going out to dig clams (this was in far afield from any ocean). Looked retarded then, looks even more so today. Affected, wouldn’t you say? Yes.
MISTER MORT is the raddest. Congrats! I’m lucky to have his great shots on my blog.
one of the lamest trends in a long time. doing it pretty much bleats “baaaaaaa.” there’s only three instances i can think of where rolling pants is appropriate: 1) you ride a bike, 2) you’re a rockabilly wearing 501s and biker boots, 3) you’re a freshman in high school and it’s 1984.
The reason why the fellow in the plaid shirt triumphs over his contemporaries is simple – he hasn’t rolled past the point of ostentation, and he’s wearing loafers, which naturally show off more sock than other shoes, making it appear less calculated and more harmonised. Additionally, his clothes are actually lively and show an awareness of a cohesive silhouette
It’s generally a better look with jeans, and perhaps chinos, because their structure stands up to it better. See also: greasers and Junya Watanabe Man’s last four shows
wait, you just now noticed this? i thought this had been going on since the snow melted and the sun came out …
More Mister Mort please.
Again if you’re currently between the ages of 35 and 45 you’ve already gone through a roll up phase. The tapered “peg” roll up does look aces paired with some high top Chucky T’s.
This look is great if you’re washing your feet in the tub.
While I’m not anti-roll, the guys in the photo are another matter. A little excessive for the Carolina League, as Crash Davis would say.
It’s a fine look for the beach, but in the city it just looks like they’re trying too hard. Plus it looks really effeminate when out of the beach context. If that’s the look you’re after, cool. Tough to rock that look and preserve your masculinity. Maybe temper it with a Ted Nugent hat or something.
Lots of people commenting on this look ‘trying to hard’ while reading a men’s style blog.
This is a trend like any other that is going to get played out quickly but for the moment it’s still working well.
This has been going on for yeaaaarrrrrsssss. You’re late to the game as always! Can I request something fresh and new be posted on this site please? Gettin’ kind of stale around here.
He looks like he’s trying too hard to be cool.
I see the yanks have discovered Superga.
But.. Guys, come on. This look, the Mr. Thom Browne-look, is inspired from the italian gents, and how they’ve been wearing there trousers for the last couple of years. The same goes for the “Short-down-bomber-over-long-suit-jacket-look” that soon will be discovered to most people.
And, when I’m at it, the rockabilly- and the 80’s-look is, atleast what I’ve seen, two of the biggest trends this spring.
I kinda dig the look, but as I went with it today with my khakis and desert boots (before I read ACL this evening) I couldn’t help but get that deja vu feeling that others mentioned. What comes around, gets rolled up again I guess.
Patrick,
Get thee a remedial grammar guide. I can hardly make sense of your writing. You managed to squeeze more grammatical and usage errors than I can count in six lines.
Dave’s comments are on point.
After perusing Mister Mort’s blog, I’m convinced the guy’s a hack. Time to get out of NYC and the Hamptons, or wherever else he found those sort-of-but-maybe-not-ironic “stylists,” for a while, dude, and find some real “street-style.” Incidentally, do you guys ever go on streets where there are anything but white and asian guys?
They all look like total Tossers!
I really think the italian men are a bad example of how to dress !!
I agree mr mort is somewhat a cliched hipster
Hey “Slippy”!!! Clearly you don’t know ANYTHING about Mister Mort aka Mordechai S. Rubinstein- and probably just glimpsed quickly at his new site. Ever “peruse” his original flickr account? Maybe then you would know what you are talking about (or in this case- not). After you do that- then you can come back with your slippy comments. And robbo- how bout you post some pics of yourself. Maybe even call Slippy can you guys can show us what is so “cool”. Maybe provide us with a link to your blogs that are sooo groundbreaking. Have fun boys.
melanie dearest, maybe you should stick to woman’s blogs
i for one can say that mr mort is the most affected guy writing a blog.
infact i could go to east london now and see about 400 mr rubinstein’s in the space of an hour
I will not post my picture or how i dress as I am not an exhibitionist or peacock who wishes to draw attention to self.
maybe you should stick to womans blogs
You only roll your denim if it is salvadge its as simple as that.
‘I really think the italian men are a bad example of how to dress !!’
A rather ill thought out statement. Have you never heard if Gianni Agnelli?
Young Italians, yes.
However, walk around Milan on a mid-week lunchtime and you will see some of the best dressed middle aged and elderly business men anywhere in the world.
And none of them roll there trousers up.
Mez,
Can you go troll somewhere else? I’m starting to think every Englishman that comments here is a crackpot.
ACL
It’s one of those hard looks to do well. Some look too forced, and some look right on. One of those things, I suppose.
I’m Scottish.
Melanie,
Assumptions will kill ‘ya, and you’re full of them. No pics for you, but I can tell you this, I wouldn’t be wearing rolled up pants, unless I was blowin’ by you on my Surly, and certainly not a cheap navy blazer with brass buttons under a Barbour coat, like the last time we saw the Mortster on this blog because, y’know, it’s affected, and lame. I’m sure he’s a great guy, but as far as style: can’t truss it.
PS Sorry for embarrassing you by using the word peruse. I didn’t know you were defensive about it.
Slippy,
You need to go back to trolling the fixed forums and leave us to ourselves.
ACL
Not a problem. Good luck with your new chief trend correspondent and them there rolled up pants. Good stuff. Really. Do another one of those fascinating posts about someone’s desk too. Those are always fascinating, Michael.
As a woman, I’m ambivalent about rolled-up trousers. I tend to think it never improves a woman’s look unless you’re going to go at least mid-shin, and happen to have one of those long, lean calves, preferably not pale.
On men, it’s an even harder call. It seems pretty hard to pull off. Everything, including hair, has to be just right or it ends up looking desperately affected. Still points, for trying.
Did Jude Law roll up his trousers in “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, BTW?
Do you mean as Dickie Greenleaf or in between shoots?
Question: Did Mister Mort ever mention here that he LIKES this trend? Or would wear it himself? I think not. Trend reporting is not exactly saying you approve/disapprove/would leave your house dressed the same way. It is reporting. period.
A trend to avoid. I agree with Slippy above; it’s a trend that “Bleats Baaaa”.
When does it ever look NOT terribly contrived?
Wow, I would have never imagined this much hostility over the rolling up of trousers…
So, it’s agreed, unless you live on the Riviera rolling up your trousers is a trait of a fashion victim.
This type of debate is what the web was designed for!
Dirty Dandies
trends come and go. this is not a very masculine look, but thats ok. I am not going to do it unless I am washing my car or at the beach with out my trunks!
…when it’s really hot and looks like your trying to stay cool and beat the heat, it definitely does NOT look contrived. I don’t know about New York, but in Austin it’s almost a necessity to roll up your pants a little because of the heat. If style is a reflection of your environment then I think this might be a style more appropriate for warmer climates in informal situations. Anywhere else, and I could see how it would look more like a cheesy trend…
I like the looks! I especially like it when khaki is rolled up.
the only thing that could be lamer is to do it with ill fitting pleated pants that have a saggy butt and a low rise.
this is what japanese guys have been doing for ages…”look to tokyo”