Drain pants, a style of skinny pants popularized in the 1950s, were worn by Elvis Presley and later adopted by the Teddy Boys, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. The pants feature a straight, even cut and were made of 100% worsted wool in black. The style has been embraced by various subsets of culture over the decades.
Drain pants are a style of skinny pants first popularized in the 1950s. One of the most famous celebrities to don these pants was Elvis Presley. His skinny, drainpipe-style jeans soon epitomized the spirit of rock and roll for which he was so well known.
These pants come in a variety of materials and colors, although the original style was usually made of 100% worsted wool in black. The earliest breeches had no front or side pockets, although they did occasionally have pockets in the back. Belt loops were also removed from this style of pants.
The distinctive aspect of this look is in the cut of the pants. Drawstring pants fit snugly around the rear and legs. The bottom of the pants is cut to hang down. Unlike most pants, those with a drainpipe cut don’t flare out or taper at the bottom. For this reason, zippers are occasionally included at the bottom of the pants to assist the wearer in putting them on.
The name “drain pants” is appropriate for these pants, as the legs resemble a straight, evenly cut drain pipe. This style has also been known by a variety of other names. These include kitchen pipes, pencil pants, and cigarette pants.
In the 1950s, as increased consumerism began to trickle down to the UK after the war, the “Teddy Boy” emerged. This class of young men adopted a characteristic style intended to surprise their parents, and distinguished the Teddy Boys of the previous generation. The Teddy Boy uniform generally consisted of slacks, a draped jacket, and suede shoes. A brightly colored tie and white or colored stockings completed the ensemble.
In the widespread trend, these pants can be found on a variety of music celebrities. Both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones donned this look in the 1960s. A similar style of skinny pants was occasionally worn by women, and the look could be found on Sandra Dee and Marilyn Monroe.
Although the mass popularity of drainpants waned in the 1970s, these pants have been embraced by various subsets of the culture over the decades. Punk bands striving to distance themselves from the hippie look wore slack pants in the 1970s. Jeans with the slack pants cut were found in heavy metal and hip hop bands of the 1980s and 1990s. Throughout the 2000s, some indie bands have incorporated this straight-legged style as well, keeping the concept of drain-style pants alive and well.
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