Formal trousers

[1] Traditionally made from heavy wool ranging from worsted, melton to partial twill weave, the pattern is most often of a muted design in stripes of black, silver, white and charcoal grey in various combinations (not to be confused with pinstripe or chalkstripe, which are formed of single thin lines spaced equally apart).

Typically, formal trousers are intended to be worn with braces with a fishtail back covered by a waistcoat, and have pleats for correct ironing result and comfort.

Similarly, the slang term "spongebag trousers" or "spongebags" is due to the perceived similarity of the distinctive stripe pattern to traditional sponge-bags, a bag of toiletries (but does not apply to check patterns).

Formal trousers were originally introduced in the first half of the 19th century as a complement to the then widely worn frock coat.

As established formal day attire trousers, they were subsequently introduced to go with the morning dress, which in turn gradually replaced the frock coat as formal day attire standard by 20th century, along with its semi-formal equivalent black lounge suit.