Cuffed cavalry twill?

Picture from the J.Press catalogue from fall 1986 – Originally posted by Admiral Cod. Tweed jacket and cavalry twill trousers. Suede tassel loafers and British racing green socks. Seems okay? Yeah kinda, but FYI: cuffed cavalry twill is a giant faux pas according to the English mores.

Most casual trousers have cuffs, because cuffs are more informal than no cuffs. Formal wear trousers and classic City suits are cuffless. English cavalry twill trousers are an exeption. They should always be cuffless, because these hard-wearing trousers have a equestrian roots. As they are based on riding trousers, which had to be easy to clean (with a brush) cuffs were inpractical. The old practice has become tradition over time.

PS. Want to update the look above to the zeitgeist of 2012? Remove the ascot and swap the trousers for denim.