Fishtail Trousers, Peg Trousers & Plus Fours

Cousin Jack's trousers have a vintage shape, and every pair has buttons for braces. There are three cuts: fishtail back trousers, high-waisted and wide in the leg with a back that rises into a V; peg trousers, roomier through the hips and tapered towards the ankle; and wool plus fours. They come in herringbone wool, twill, pinstripe, wool blend and check. We design every style in Elland, West Yorkshire, and make it in our own UK factory or at a carefully selected factory in Europe.

What are fishtail trousers?

Men's fishtail trousers, also called fishtail back trousers (fishtail pants, if you are searching from the US), have a waistband that rises to a V at the centre of the back, like the tail of a fish. The high back is cut for braces. Men wore the style from the 1920s into the 1940s, and it is enjoying something of a revival. Ours are cut to sit at the natural waist, with four deep pleats at the front, a zip fly, a wide leg with a hem circumference of 22 inches, and two welt pockets at the back as well as two side pockets.

Fishtail back trousers in herringbone, twill or pinstripe

• Herringbone: the navy and brown herringbone pairs are 100% wool from Abraham Moon, the West Yorkshire mill in Guiseley founded in 1837. Both are part lined in cotton, and dry cleaning is recommended.
• Twill: the charcoal, navy and brown twill pairs are a hardy poly-viscose blend, made for work or play, and can be machine washed at 30 degrees.
• Pinstripe: the navy and brown pinstripe pairs are the same easy-care twill with a stripe, a smart partner for a waistcoat or a slipover.

What are peg trousers?

Peg trousers take their name from the cut: roomier through the hips and gently tapered towards the ankle. Ours sit just above the hips, or can be worn higher for a more traditional high-waisted fit. They have four front pleats, sharp pressed creases, slanted side pockets and a zip fly, and the structured waistband has belt loops, internal grip banding and brace buttons on the inside. A generous centre-back inlay means the waist can be let out or altered if you need it, and the regular length has deep 4cm turn-ups.

• Twill: the brown, charcoal and navy twill pegs are a poly-viscose blend, unlined, and can be machine washed at 30 degrees.
• Pinstripe: the navy pinstripe and brown pinstripe pegs are the same twill with a stripe.
• Wool blend: the Midnight and Maple pegs are 65% wool and 35% poly, part lined by the pockets, and need dry cleaning.

If you are choosing between the two cuts, fishtail back trousers have the V-shaped back and a wide leg, while peg trousers are fuller at the hip and narrower at the ankle.

Fit, length and sizes

Every pair of fishtail back trousers is supplied unfinished, so you can turn the legs up or have them hemmed to the length you want (the twills have a 36 inch inside leg to start with). Waist sizes run from 30 to 44, and because fishtail back trousers sit on the natural waist, measure there and check the size guide.

What are plus fours?

Plus fours are baggy breeches that hang four inches below the knee: the name comes from being four inches longer than traditional knickerbockers. They became a sporting fashion in the 1920s, especially with golfers and game shooters. Our plus fours come in a blue and grey check and a green check, both 100% wool from Abraham Moon and part lined in cotton, with two deep pleats, five belt loops, buttons for braces and an adjuster at each cuff to set the fit below the knee. Our merino wool blend long socks, in bracken and charcoal, were chosen to go with them.

How to wear them

Tuck in a shirt, button on your braces and add a waistcoat. Our leather button braces come in French navy, grey and taupe, and fasten to the buttons on the waistband.

Each of our waistcoats has a matching pair of trousers in the same cloth or colour: twill and pinstripe waistcoats with the fishtail and peg pairs, herringbone with the herringbone fishtail pairs, check with the plus fours, and the Midnight and Maple waistcoats with the Midnight and Maple pegs, so each pair works as a set of suit separates. The Midnight pegs also have a matching jacket and waistcoat, for a full three-piece suit from our suits. A collarless shirt or a knitted slipover suits a high waist, and for a tweedy country look see our Country Gent collection.