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Post by brokennock on Jun 21, 2020 18:34:03 GMT -7
Okay, this is meant with an equal blend of humor and seriousness. It is a humorous reason to choose one style front for one's breeches over another.
Specifically, if you plan to spend much time in the woods in your breeches, and full 18th century garb, I would recommend fly front instead of drop front, if your time period, location, and persona will allow for it. Especially as the reasons behind this involve all the stuff that keeps anyone from knowing which fly you have anyway.
Let me lay the case out for you,
You start off basically like this,
Then you add a waistcoat (maybe), a hunting shirt/frock (which of course is belted around you), then hang a bunch of shooting gear and other accoutrements across your body and about your person, ending up like this,
And now you spend your morning enjoying the woods, fields, and waters. Maybe you stop by a stream or other scenic spot for a cup of coffee or some water. Of course, at some point now, you will have to get rid of that coffee and or water,,,,,,, but,,,,
those top three buttons (or at least two of them) on a pair of fly front breeches need to be gotten to. Hmmmmm. 
Not going to happen with that sash and the stuff hanging off of it. and most of that other stuff hanging off you is going to inhibit getting that hunting shirt out of the way.
Essentially you need to go back from this,
to this,
and maybe in a hurry!
I'm thinking with fly front one could work their way through and under the outer layers to get at enough buttons of a button fly undone to answer nature's call.
Hope y'all got a li'l chuckle. Seems something to think about though, certainly was the day I took the pics by the stream.
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Post by paranger on Jun 22, 2020 6:26:38 GMT -7
From a practical standpoint, there is no doubt about what you say. I have found fall front breeches to be, um, awkward at best when nature calls urgently. Like fashion trends then and now, historically it was a case of form over function. Fall front breeches were thought to present a more streamlined, attractive appearance as waistcoat lengths were simultaneously decreasing and making breeches more visibly prominent. That said, both existed simultaneously for most of the century, so there is plenty of overlap to justify either choice for most 18th c. impressions, particularly wearing fly front on the frontier later than would have been considered fashionable in the metropolitan set. And your bladder might just thank you for your choice  |
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ewoaf
City-dweller
Posts: 203
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Post by ewoaf on Jun 23, 2020 15:58:36 GMT -7
It really needs to come down to time period. Neither are hard to piss out of.
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Post by Black Hand on Jun 23, 2020 16:22:04 GMT -7
I leave 2 of the 3 buttons undone and tuck the flap under my belt. Never had a problem...other than sometimes hitting the corner of my hunting shirt.
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Post by artificer on Jun 23, 2020 23:19:28 GMT -7
In the late 70's, my first set of 18th century trousers was made from off white/light tan commercial tanned buckskin, since there was no way I could personally tan deer hides when living on the third floor in an apartment house and I darn sure couldn't afford brain tanned hides back then.
Back then, Fall Front was considered the most authentic way to make breeches/trousers, so that's how mine were made. That may have worked fine with cloth, but the front sagged far too open at times, so I added another button in the middle of the flap. Yep, I didn't care for trying to unbutton the Fall Front when I needed to go to the Necessary.
So after finding out the commercial tan buckskin was WAY too hot in the humidity at Friendship, IN at the Spring and Fall National Shoots, I quickly had a pair of military overalls made with the French Fly. Perhaps it was easier for me to unbutton when needed as I was more used to that style then Fall Front, but I never went back to the Fall Front.
Many years later I found out extra care had to be taken when wearing a Philabeag or Short Kilt, when relieving oneself. If the wind caught the kilt, one might also hit the end of it unintentionally, even though all you have to do is bunch it up to "take care of business." GRIN.
Gus
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Post by brokennock on Jun 24, 2020 0:59:14 GMT -7
The fall front wouldn't be bad if all one were wearing with it is a tucked in shirt and maybe a waistcoat. But getting to those top buttons when wearing all the other layers and accoutrements one might wear ahunting, can be a strain.
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Post by Black Hand on Jun 24, 2020 6:11:30 GMT -7
The fall front wouldn't be bad if all one were wearing with it is a tucked in shirt and maybe a waistcoat. But getting to those top buttons when wearing all the other layers and accoutrements one might wear ahunting, can be a strain. Not a problem, as I described above... |
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Post by brokennock on Jun 24, 2020 10:22:09 GMT -7
The fall front wouldn't be bad if all one were wearing with it is a tucked in shirt and maybe a waistcoat. But getting to those top buttons when wearing all the other layers and accoutrements one might wear ahunting, can be a strain. Not a problem, as I described above... I will be trying that. But, my next pair will be fly front, just in case... |
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Post by lenapej on Jun 29, 2020 18:27:47 GMT -7
It really needs to come down to time period. Neither are hard to piss out of. could you elaborate more on time period? when did the fall front come into style? I always thought fall front came in late '60s or early '70s but the 18th century Material culture and Resource center show originals in the early or mid '50s? |
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ewoaf
City-dweller
Posts: 203
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Post by ewoaf on Jun 30, 2020 13:32:56 GMT -7
It really needs to come down to time period. Neither are hard to piss out of. could you elaborate more on time period? when did the fall front come into style? I always thought fall front came in late '60s or early '70s but the 18th century Material culture and Resource center show originals in the early or mid '50s? Fall fronts would be very uncommon until the 60s. |
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Post by lenapej on Jul 1, 2020 14:18:09 GMT -7
could you elaborate more on time period? when did the fall front come into style? I always thought fall front came in late '60s or early '70s but the 18th century Material culture and Resource center show originals in the early or mid '50s? Fall fronts would be very uncommon until the 60s. ewoaf, thank you. |
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