Nunn Family with the Mysterious Trousers...

[LJBeastie]

Hello!

I have a photo which I'd appreciate dating and which is causing a bit of debate!

This is a photo of my great-grandmother's family which has only recently surfaced

We're all very curious about the gentleman's trousers! Why do they have buttons up to the knee?! Do they have a practical purpose?

He worked in a brewery so I wondered if that might have something to do with it.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed some light on this!

[Milliepede]

With a topic heading like that I just had to have a look 

You could be right that it was something to do with his occupation - or maybe they were refashioned from sleeves?

[Skoosh]

He maybe had to get inside a vat & do a bit of tramping?

Skoosh.

[Milliepede]

Actually they don't look like trouser bottoms do they so maybe he is wearing protective apparel like chaps that you button over your ordinary trousers! 

[cms]

I agree with Milliepede. They are gaiters worn over trousers. Which also however have buttons so perhaps they were calf length trousers - breeches, knickerbockers or whatever - with matching gaiters. They must have been considered smart wear to have worn them for the portrait photograph.

[Regorian]

Googling brewers trousers 1920 images there are a lot of breeches shown. Not the button up add on though.

[Rhododendron]

They could just be spats (I think they were called) that were worn in cold weather - to help keep the wearer warm.

I think that might be why he is wearing them.

[cms]

I have got a book called Occupational Costume in England and it describes, and illustrates, the costume of a Drayman, or driver of horsedrawn brewery delivery vehicles, wearing gaiters just like these.

[jim1]

These were very common day wear from farmers to road labourers.
Leather breeches & gaiters with no wear so must be his best pair.
Odd to see a man in these when he's otherwise smartly dressed.He must have had a decent pair of trousers.
Datewise 1917-20 possibly 21.