Lighter weight flannels for warmer winters
I wrote a couple weeks ago that I had discovered a new go-to for trousers, Spier and Mackay. I bought three pairs of their VBC flannels in each shade of gray. My brother placed an order as well, but after seeing mine in person, he canceled it. His reason? He felt they were too heavy for his uses most of the time. These days, even in Ohio where he lives—and particularly given a daily commute that involves about 30 seconds outdoors—it seems like winter doesn’t quite have enough of a bite for long enough periods of time to justify some heavier weight garments.
[my charcoal pair of Spier & Mackay flannel trousers, paired with an Eidos shirt and jacket, and Brooks Brothers tie]
If you love the softness and visual texture of flannel trousers, but have a lifestyle where even a medium-weight flannel is too heavy, there are light weight versions out there. I was thrilled to find some, in fact, at Brooks Brothers recently in myriad versatile colors and a slim-straight fit that’s contemporary without feeling too slim.
They’re made from a cloth woven by highly renowned mill Vitale Barberis Canonico (same mill that Spier and Mackay used for theirs), but in a lighter weight that you can wear earlier in the fall and later in the spring. For reference, my SM trousers are made with a 340gram/m2 (grams per square meter) cloth. Other typical winter-weight trousers are in this range—No Man Walks Alone’s Rota flannels are the same weight and SM’s merino tweed trousers are slightly heavier at 360g. In contrast, my old pair of “fall flannel” trousers from Howard Yount (a company I’d advise you avoid nowadays) are 270g. I’d estimate these Brooks Brothers trousers are about the same.
The website says they have a bit of stretch, which I dislike in principle, but in practice the fabric felt normal to me. Give them a try if you’re looking for some lighter weight flannel trousers. They’ve got several cuts to try.
Slim fit with a lower rise: Milano fit
Slim straight with a normal mid-rise: Regent
Full-fit with a mid-high rise: Madison
Full-fit with a reverse pleat: Madison pleated
Brooks Brothers is also selling a pair of flannel trousers in their expensive Golden Fleece line—which I have not had a chance to see in person—which looks like a contemporary slim straight fit with a single reverse pleat.
[Brooks Brothers’ Golden Fleece flannel trousers]
