Realm Black & White Elastic Bands with Buttonhole for Trouser Waistbands, Maternity Clothes, Sewing, Knitting, Crafting (16mm, 19mm, 25mm) (Black, 25mm - 1 Metres)

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Carolina Quintero Rodriguez, a fashion lecturer at RMIT University says, “when elastic fabrics are elongated beyond their stretchability or over an extended period of time, the fibres can break or lose the capability of returning to their original shape”. The force, frequency and size of the extension will also influence how long the elastic lasts. I include an image from De Bonne Facture in particular, because I also got a lovely pair of their straw-yellow linen drawstring trousers that Summer - from No Man Walks Alone. Tired of trousers that pinch at the waist or are difficult to fasten? At Chums, we know that the perfect garments offer not only style, but also supreme comfort. This is what lies at the heart of our range of men’s elasticated Funnily enough I got turn ups on my pair and then ended up having them removed as I preferred the natural folding up also. Firstly because I like to wear quite a cropped trouser normally and I didn’t get the turn up quite high enough. Secondly I felt it was just a little too formal for the trouser. A clean, well-fitting waistband is an attractive thing, and shouldn’t be discarded easily. It draws the attention to one of the slimmest parts of the body, and provides a nice transition point between loose material above and below.

Elasticated waists are becoming increasingly popular in men's trousers. And I think they do have a place - when they are practical, and don't undermine the style. Earlier this year, I bought a pair of linen pyjamas from Anderson & Sheppard, and the fit was much better. They rarely moved on the waist, despite being ready-made, and were more comfortable. The key feature of elastic is its ability to stretch and retract to its original size and shape repeatedly. When elastic is damaged or aged this ability lessens. There are steps that can be taken to prolong the life and stretch of elastic, but sometimes it will need to be replaced. Two years ago I had some bespoke pyjamas made by the Spanish shirtmaker Burgos (above), a process that began at our pop-up shop earlier in the year. They were in a nice, modern-feeling chambray, and I covered them on PS here .If the elastic is encased in a tube of fabric, it will be relatively straightforward to replace. Photograph: Zen Rial/Getty Images Fashions that are interesting because they’re unusual rarely last long. After a while they just stop being unusual. It is important to reduce the stress of the fibre over time” she says, “so selecting the correct garment size is an important consideration when purchasing next-to-skin garments such as underwear, bras and swimwear.” Turn the heat down You can use a belt to cover up that waistband, as there are belt loops, but then there's little point in the elastic.

I think the Anderson & Sheppard trousers were also a particularly good example. The tension is good, the elastic wide, and there is a flat panel at the front with no elastic - just a couple of mother-of-pearl buttons - which makes them look cleaner and more elegant than a simple elasticated waist. Thanks Simon, very timely article given we’re likely to remain in work from home mode for quite a time. I know some men find it empowering to wear a suit to work at home, but I’m increasingly looking at more comfy / casual outfits (while trying to avoid the temptation of sweatpants). Elasticated waists seemed to be a good halfway house but I still haven’t taken the plunge yet, largely because they often seem to be in very summery materials like linen and I wanted something with more body. Last year I got a pair of summer trousers from Informale - Steve Calder’s casual-tailoring brand - in olive linen (above). They had an elasticated waist, as well as a drawstring. Bra elastic is widely available at haberdashery shops, so it is easy to swap out stretched straps. Photograph: Poh Kim Yeoh/Getty Images/EyeEm Stretch fabricsIf machine washing is unavoidable, place the garments inside a washing bag to further reduce friction and protect the elasticity. Use a gentle detergent and keep elastic away from chemicals like chlorine and bleach, as they will also reduce its lifespan. According to Quintero Rodriguez elastic fibres can be damaged by heat “so it is recommended to wash the garments with low temperature”. She suggests washing “the garments by hand or in a delicate/gentle machine cycle to avoid breakage of the fibre”.

Mallalieu says once the elastic goes in stretchy garments like swimwear and underwear, or anything with ribbing, there isn’t much you can do.

I keep the lights off, so as not to wake up my wife. I need to get to my daughter in the next room before her murmuring turns into screaming, waking even more people up. Over time, however, I became a little frustrated with the trousers. They were too high in the rise at the start, and I had this altered. But even then, they were not that comfortable and had a frustrating tendency to slip up and down. So being able to simply slip on pyjama trousers - in frankly indulgent cashmarello fabric - is wonderful. It’s the perfect combination of practical and luxurious. The difference there I think is that the elastic is rarely under much strain. It’s only trying to tighten by a centimetre or two, and as a result it’s normally invisible when the trousers are worn.

I like clothes too much to be driven entirely by comfort. And I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid being a fashion victim. I’m not sure pushing 40 with three kids is a good time to start. But it's important to consciously draw a line - to be aware of when this undermining starts to happen. blazers, and unlike regular formal trousers, they don’t dig in at the waist. For a smart-casual style, take a look at our chinos and cords. Our elasticated waist trousers for the elderly and all age groups come in a selection of I can see why this is an effective look, and subverts some expectations of a shirt and trousers, but it’s too fashion-led for me.

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Nicole Mallalieu, a fashion lecturer at the Australian College of the Arts, warns that when “elastic goes, it goes”. Depending on the garment, replacing elastic can be easy – or very difficult. If the elastic is encased and “you can move the elastic within the folded over edge of the fabric” – like an elasticated waist band on a pair of pants or skirt – replacing it is relatively straightforward. I’m sure others will place theirs differently - either disliking elastic on pyjamas, or loving it even on smart trousers. But either way, I think it’s useful to draw one, rather than stumble into a fashion look or one driven purely by comfort. I’m guessing the issue is that an elasticated waistband isn’t able to support heavier fabrics so well? Was your issue with the Informale flannels just because you didn’t like the look of the formal material in this cut, or is the weight of the fabric an issue too? Any other tips on fit much appreciated – it seems that saggy butt is another potential issue with the more slouchy cut! Pyjama trousers are also usually cut straight up-and-down, with no tapering from the seat into the waist. This means the elastic or cord has more work to do than on regular trousers: there is more to cinch in, and so it’s more of a challenge for a cord. to timeless cotton trousers, to leisure trousers that are perfect for wearing when lounging around the house or playing sport, we will have something to suit your needs. We also