The first few pairs of trousers I bought from them were in slim fit. I recently sold every pair I had and purchased several in the contemporary fit. I find the difference to be very significant and a major improvement with comfort and drape yet the contemporary trousers still give the impression of slim and tall. Not too wide or baggy at all.
this is really useful and agree they look very similar. your point about seasonality actually convinced me to pick up both trousers so i can have tweak the look since the jacket is a 4 seasoner, but matching the footwear is not something i had considered before
Thanks for this comparison! There have been several comments on Style Forum that the fits of S&M trousers have gotten very slim, even in the contemporary, so I've been sticking with that cut, but haven't actually tried the slim. I'm looking at the VBC high twist for this summer though, so your video is timely!
Great video. I have been buying the slim fit with spier for a few years now. I like the fit a lot and how they taper on the ankle but find the thigh a bit too tight for me at times. I switch occasionally to the contemporary fit because it gives me a little more room in the thighs but would need to slightly alter knee down for that slim fit finish. I can get away with slim fit for high waisted pants because they do give you a little more room in the thigh because of the pleats. For flat fronts I almost always do contemporary. Overall I would agree the sizing difference is not that noticeable visually but more so how you feel when you move. For reference I have a slim but athletic build 6’1, 190lbs, 33 waist.
Unrelated to the video topic, I really love the one-piece collar shirts that you've been rocking. I just discovered their existence recently and ordered some from Suit Supply. Living in south Florida, I typically prefer an open collar and those look so elegant. Do you have any one-piece collar shits that you can recommend?
I get all of mine from The Gaudery, MTO. You can find them online or on Instagram/Facebook. As you know, SuitSupply has some that they offer in a few fabrics each season, ready to buy, and they also do them MTO.
I order a slim and a contemporary the contemporary is 16 inches the bottom but when i take to the taylor the finish is 17 and the slim is 15 on the bottom but when i take to the taylor is 16 so for me a slim is a contemporary when is taylored
Both look great on you! I think it's great to have options. I'm sure the slim may tug on the fabric of the back thigh/buttocks when sitting down or squatting (as is the case with me), but shouldn't be uncomfortable if the fit is cut right. I myself bought a few pairs of contemporary fit from slim, but will probably go back to slim once I hit the gym more. Love the comparisons, cheers mate!
I have two pairs from them. My tailor has praised the quality. I think the differences are subtle to my eye only. I go contemporary simply because I like classic look and frankly I have nearly 18 inch calves. I love the high waist look for my proportions but you need to go up a waist size if your going to wear these at your belly button. If your a bigger guy, also note the max waist size is 40 inches.
Dr. Lee, After three Spier and Macakay trouser purchases, I had to give up on them. I sent the third pair back for a refund due to an asymmetrical or uneven cut to the fabric of the trousers causing a twisting appearance to the legs of the trousers. My tailor pointed this out to me. I could not return the first two pairs due to the fact that I had alterations made to them. One of these is almost unwearable. I was told that this uneven cut is due to the way the trousers are mass produced. I am spending my money elsewhere. Has anyone else noticed this?
The difference is quite visible to me. The 'contemporary fit' looks more 'classic'. They drape beautifully. The 'slim fit' looks good too and they are on the slimmer side of the 60's cut. Recently I've watched many movies from the 60's and I've noticed that the trend was to go slimmer. Sometimes almost skinny fit but most of the time they were more like this Spier &Mackay 'contemporary' fit. They also look like trousers that Cary Grant wore in the 'Charade' form 1963, cut-wise of course.
to be honest, I don't think either particularly flatter your physique but maybe it's partly because they're so short and ankles are showing, they might drape more nicely hemmed and allowed to just touch the shoes. I'm of a similar build to you, just a bit shorter it would appear, and with shorter legs, I'm 173 cm, also 32 waist, and I haven't been able to find trousers yet to really feel good about, I'm still experimenting with rise height, thigh size etc. I just ordered some Dugdale's high twist cloths, some Bryson linen and VBC's 4-ply for spring/summer semi bespoke sets and perhaps better fabrics will bring better looks.
Their quality and fits are not consistent at all,their MTM is horrible,their fabrics are hit or miss,the last linen shirts I bought from them was 1 white and 1 blue,the white linen shirt had better heavier fabric and fits okay but the blue linen was bad in fit and horrible in fabric,the blue linen became unwearable after one wash,how can they make the same shirt styles but the white had better fabric than the blue?,I reached out to customer service and they refused to do anything about it,so far I have 2 MTM shirts and 1 blue linen shirt that are unwearable,I have bought a total of 6 shirts from SPIER & MACKAY and 3 of them are unwearable.
The first few pairs of trousers I bought from them were in slim fit. I recently sold every pair I had and purchased several in the contemporary fit. I find the difference to be very significant and a major improvement with comfort and drape yet the contemporary trousers still give the impression of slim and tall. Not too wide or baggy at all.
this is really useful and agree they look very similar. your point about seasonality actually convinced me to pick up both trousers so i can have tweak the look since the jacket is a 4 seasoner, but matching the footwear is not something i had considered before
Thanks for this comparison! There have been several comments on Style Forum that the fits of S&M trousers have gotten very slim, even in the contemporary, so I've been sticking with that cut, but haven't actually tried the slim. I'm looking at the VBC high twist for this summer though, so your video is timely!
Great video. I have been buying the slim fit with spier for a few years now. I like the fit a lot and how they taper on the ankle but find the thigh a bit too tight for me at times. I switch occasionally to the contemporary fit because it gives me a little more room in the thighs but would need to slightly alter knee down for that slim fit finish.
I can get away with slim fit for high waisted pants because they do give you a little more room in the thigh because of the pleats. For flat fronts I almost always do contemporary.
Overall I would agree the sizing difference is not that noticeable visually but more so how you feel when you move.
For reference I have a slim but athletic build 6’1, 190lbs, 33 waist.
Gosh I needed that video!! I'm living in Germany and Taxes for shipping is high... So I need to get a really good fit!
Unrelated to the video topic, I really love the one-piece collar shirts that you've been rocking. I just discovered their existence recently and ordered some from Suit Supply. Living in south Florida, I typically prefer an open collar and those look so elegant. Do you have any one-piece collar shits that you can recommend?
I get all of mine from The Gaudery, MTO. You can find them online or on Instagram/Facebook. As you know, SuitSupply has some that they offer in a few fabrics each season, ready to buy, and they also do them MTO.
Go contemporary, looks better on you in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.
I order a slim and a contemporary the contemporary is 16 inches the bottom but when i take to the taylor the finish is 17 and the slim is 15 on the bottom but when i take to the taylor is 16 so for me a slim is a contemporary when is taylored
Both look great on you! I think it's great to have options.
I'm sure the slim may tug on the fabric of the back thigh/buttocks when sitting down or squatting (as is the case with me), but shouldn't be uncomfortable if the fit is cut right.
I myself bought a few pairs of contemporary fit from slim, but will probably go back to slim once I hit the gym more.
Love the comparisons, cheers mate!
I have two pairs from them. My tailor has praised the quality. I think the differences are subtle to my eye only. I go contemporary simply because I like classic look and frankly I have nearly 18 inch calves. I love the high waist look for my proportions but you need to go up a waist size if your going to wear these at your belly button. If your a bigger guy, also note the max waist size is 40 inches.
Thanks for sharing!
Dr. Lee, After three Spier and Macakay trouser purchases, I had to give up on them. I sent the third pair back for a refund due to an asymmetrical or uneven cut to the fabric of the trousers causing a twisting appearance to the legs of the trousers. My tailor pointed this out to me. I could not return the first two pairs due to the fact that I had alterations made to them. One of these is almost unwearable. I was told that this uneven cut is due to the way the trousers are mass produced. I am spending my money elsewhere. Has anyone else noticed this?
Just bought a pair; made in china and it has a rip. I hate paying $200 and still getting a crap product. Have you found any other places?
Thank you for the side by side. Subbed
Thanks for the sub!
The difference is quite visible to me. The 'contemporary fit' looks more 'classic'. They drape beautifully. The 'slim fit' looks good too and they are on the slimmer side of the 60's cut. Recently I've watched many movies from the 60's and I've noticed that the trend was to go slimmer. Sometimes almost skinny fit but most of the time they were more like this Spier &Mackay 'contemporary' fit. They also look like trousers that Cary Grant wore in the 'Charade' form 1963, cut-wise of course.
I thought the contemporary draped nicer, just barely. I have such skinny legs though that I just can’t get into wearing fuller cuts myself
How tall are you? Considering between contemporary and slim right now myself.
5'11" 165 lb
to be honest, I don't think either particularly flatter your physique but maybe it's partly because they're so short and ankles are showing, they might drape more nicely hemmed and allowed to just touch the shoes. I'm of a similar build to you, just a bit shorter it would appear, and with shorter legs, I'm 173 cm, also 32 waist, and I haven't been able to find trousers yet to really feel good about, I'm still experimenting with rise height, thigh size etc. I just ordered some Dugdale's high twist cloths, some Bryson linen and VBC's 4-ply for spring/summer semi bespoke sets and perhaps better fabrics will bring better looks.
May I know how tall are you sir?
5'11"
@@gentlemenscholarsclub Thank you!
In summer, I would rather wear my clothes a bit wide because it’s more breathable
Excellent point--to leave more room for air circulation
On a slim person (28-33) waist, slim thighs can get away w/ either.
Their quality and fits are not consistent at all,their MTM is horrible,their fabrics are hit or miss,the last linen shirts I bought from them was 1 white and 1 blue,the white linen shirt had better heavier fabric and fits okay but the blue linen was bad in fit and horrible in fabric,the blue linen became unwearable after one wash,how can they make the same shirt styles but the white had better fabric than the blue?,I reached out to customer service and they refused to do anything about it,so far I have 2 MTM shirts and 1 blue linen shirt that are unwearable,I have bought a total of 6 shirts from SPIER & MACKAY and 3 of them are unwearable.