Field trousers in cotton duck in stone

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£180.00 — ex VAT

Trousers, wide of leg, made in London with cotton canvas of not-insubstantial weight (14oz) from a mill in Lancashire and, here and there, dark horn buttons from the West Midlands.

Sizing

If in doubt with sizing, ignore what your current trousers say they are, and measure them instead. Lay them flat and straight, measure from one side of the waist seam to the other, then double it. That's your size (not to be confused with your own physical waist size).

XS S M L XL
Waist 30 32 34 36 38
Waist cinched 28 30 32 34 36
Front rise 11 11½ 12 12½ 13
Back rise 17 17½ 18 18½ 19
Thigh 12½ 12¾ 13 13¼ 13½
Knee 9¾ 10 10¼ 10½ 10¾
Hem 8¼ 8½ 8¾ 9 9¼
Inside leg 32 32 32 32 32
Inside leg unhemmed 33½ 33½ 33½ 33½ 33½
These are trousers modelled on those of the old school, but executed in the ways of the new. They are constructed in a tremendously sturdy manner, and are high of rise and full of leg. Plenty of room in the seat and thigh is what that means, such that they don't ride up or pull or drag when sitting up or down.
There is a pleat on either side of the front of the trousers, lending additional room and comfort at the front, and ensuring nothing is pulled unduly out of shape when the pockets are employed. The pleats also help the trousers traverse the gentle curves at the front of the body.
The trousers have what's sometimes known as quarter-top pockets at the sides, which are satisfyingly deep for hands of all sizes, and are shaped such that personal effects distribute equally rather than pooling in the corner and causing wear. It helps, too, that they're lined with unusually tough cotton cloth.
Round the back, meanwhile, are two more pockets, built into the seam where yoke meets leg. Their mouths left and right are strengthened with stout little bar-tacks. Such tacks can indeed be found at most other places of stress on the trousers, too — the front pockets, the top of the pleats, the base of the crotch, etc.
The waistband rises up at the back — preserving modesty when bending over, and serving as a grab-handle to fetch things up if riding low. This, admittedly, is unlikely: the tabs at either side of the waistband see to that. They permit the trousers to be tightened for comfort by up to two inches.
French seams can be found down both sides of the leg. Renownedly durable seams, these, and arduous to sew — especially at the grand junction that is the crotch. Their presence on both seams on the leg means you'd have to do something very dramatic — acrobatic, perhaps, even — for them to wear through.
The buttons on the trousers are horn, dark in colour and matte in finish. The trousers have a button fly of three such buttons, as well as one more hidden out of view for the fly-guard, which fastens behind the front of the trousers to help keep everything just that little bit more secure in the nether region.
The trousers are lined to the knee, front and back, with a soft, breathable satin. The way this lining is constructed makes the trousers as clean and tidy when turned inside-out as outside-out. The presence of this lining makes it easy — nay, downright pleasurable — to slide one's legs up and down and all around.
This is cotton duck — the term "duck" coming from the Dutch word doek, meaning small, short-necked, large-billed waterfowl. In plain, non-Dutch terms, it is a cotton canvas of just-over middling weight, hard and firm when new, soft and ruggedly lived-in with wear, and hard-wearing throughout.

As worn

This specimen has a waist-size of 34", and so a fresh pair of trousers in size M is just the ticket. They will likely stretch a little on the waist after a few days wear, so those side-adjusters will come in handy.

Makers of

The trousers are made in London by a factory which — since they are so sturdily built, particularly at the seams — specialises in heavy outerwear. Making them, in fact, can be a gruelling task, entailing as it does umpteen more stages than most trousers — at least five of which demand a hammer.
The cloth is supplied by a mill in east Lancashire: in a region of the country which was once red-brick cotton-mill chimneys as far as the eye could see. More or less the last of its kind, the mill has forgotten more about cotton than most will ever know — a fact borne out by the quality of its work.
The horn buttons were cut, shaped, and polished by the last such factory in Britain (now defunct). It was part of a tradition in the Midlands first linked to the meat industry of the 18th century. "It is no easy task," said William Hutton in 1780, "to enumerate the infinite diversity of buttons made in Birmingham."

So they say

They are perfect. The fabric, design, and sewing are of the highest quality. The heavyweight corduroy is perfect for the misery that is San Francisco weather. And they look great on me: no easy task for a man in middle age. I also appreciated the packaging and the inclusion of the marvellous bag, not to mention the personal note from you.

Happy words from a man in the United States, who purchased the proper trousers in cord in January 2019.

Just an email to say that the proper trousers are truly splendid: surely the most comfortable trousers I own.

Said by a gentleman whose trousers in heavy a Shetland woollen began keeping him warm in October 2015.

This afternoon, as promised, I received my proper trousers. I wanted to thank you for the ease of transaction, the quality of service offered by your company, and, above all, the quality of these trousers. The care and workmanship are self-evident and commendable. I hope that S.E.H Kelly can continue to make quality attire for as long as it cares to, and wish you all the very best for the foreseeable future.

Said by a man who bought the proper trousers in cotton in February of 2016.

These lovely strides: they're very, very nice — beautiful finish and detailing. Now I know what all the fuss is about.

Heavy cotton is what this gent's trousers are made from — bought back in November 2014.

I just wanted to let you know the proper trousers arrived. The fit and feel are truly excellent. I love the thickness of the cotton. Thank for the advice and for the help, as always.

Kind words from a proper trouser-owner back in August 2015.

The proper trousers — I am very pleased with the length, cut and fabric. The letter is a lovely touch, too, thank you.

Compliments elicited a pair of heavy linen trousers in May 2017.

The jacket and proper trousers I bought are part of my wedding day, and will be are very much loved by [bride-to-be and] myself on the day, as well as used into our future.

The groom-to-be bought a pair of worsted proper trousers in June 2017.