Buckle-Backs

The buckle-back trouser was something of a style statement for young guys in the late 1950s. The small fabric belt, fastened with a metal buckle, was a rather simple sartorial detail to add to otherwise plain cotton chinos that were mostly thought of as work pants. As legend has it, the inspiration was lifted from baseball mitts at the time, which used a cinch-strap to tighten the fit of the glove. And this spring, the buckles are back—with throwback labels offering updated pants with the retro detail.