Knickerbockers, such as we used to wear in the early years of the twentieth century, were gathered just below the knee.
They were thus likely to be stretched pretty tight over the kneecap, especially on a growing boy or in certain sports, such as golfing.
Some brave English tailor along about 1920 came to the rescue and, though still buckling the trousers just below the knee, he made the leg much fuller and added just four inches (plus four) to the length of the cloth.
The garment was not becoming.
Any man who wore it looked as if he had two bags suspended from the waist.
