F12 - Interleaved Flares

These unique flares have a system of small disconnected panels which provide the flareage to otherwise straight trousers. A degree of pure thought and paper modelling had revealed the possibility of making flares with a series of small, disconnected panels instead of just one, larger one.

To test the theory properly, or perhaps to prove it, a couple of identical pairs of very cheap trousers were bought from an Amsterdam market stall, for a total of 18 guilders (€8). Instead of the usual hem slit for insertion of a flare panel, a complex zigzagging, boustrophedon slit was made (see diagram, left), and the two halves were rotated relative to each other to reveal the positions for the various panelettes. The panelettes themselves were cut from the second pair and sewn into the newly-made spaces in the first pair.

The top part of the second pair was retained as a pair of hot-pants, which are not discussed here, being not flared. This process of flaring was performed for two pseudo-panels each of seven panelettes per leg.

W=28½, w=18, l=37½: θ_F=5.09°, V_F=2669 ml, C=0.23