Men's Monpe Balloon Pants

Balloon leg narrowing at the ankle, front pleats, elasticated waist.

Monpe pants began as the loose work trousers of Japanese farmers. They are full through the leg and gathered at the ankle, so you can crouch in a field without the hem catching mud. Ours keep that balloon shape, with front pleats and an elasticated waist.

The narrow ankle is what separates monpe from other wide trousers. The volume stays at the hip and thigh, then pulls in sharply above the foot. It looks deliberate and keeps the hem out of the way on stairs, bikes and wet pavements.

Sizing

They run small, so check the waist range before you order. XXS fits a 64 to 78 cm waist, XS 68 to 84 cm and S 72 to 90 cm. The hip measures 128 cm at XXS, 132 cm at XS and 136 cm at S. Lengths run 88 to 90 cm. The supplier suggests XXS for 47 to 57 kg, XS for 57 to 65 kg and S for 65 to 75 kg. Our model is 189 cm and wears S.

Fabric and care

Polyester. It keeps the pleats, dries fast and shrugs off creases. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, or hand wash cold. Hang to dry.

How to wear them

Two colours. Gray and black both pair well with a cropped jacket or a short tee, and keeps the balloon shape visible from the hip all the way down to the gathered ankle. Low trainers or tabi suit the gathered ankle.

Monpe sit with the tobi and the samue in the family of Japanese work pants. The tobi is cut for scaffolders, fuller still. The samue trouser is softer and belongs to the monks.

Pairs well with the long haori coat and the collarless denim chore jacket. Also in the same family: the sekino men's cotton cropped pants.

Compare them in Japanese work pants and Japanese baggy pants. Where to buy Japanese work pants explains the differences.