The Difference a Crease makes

Today will be a relatively casual day here in wintery Delft, and a good opportunity to share a lesson I learned when I first started to wear army-issue trousers a few years back.
These trousers, made out of heavy material and with thigh pockets, were to me a very practical and rugged alternative to the tidal waves of jeans that seemed to be all but drowning my peer-group.

via Loro Piana

Wanting to look far from an urban militant (or straight-out douche), I always took great care in maintaining their carefully pressed crease. This ensured an air of civilisation -almost classiness even- about them, and before I knew it, I was being complimented on my oh so decent appearance. It also helped that I only wear solids, and don't pair them with black oversized hoodies..

Soon after, I started experimenting with my other more casual leg-wear. For some it worked, for some it didn't, and before I knew it, I was wearing over half of my trousers creased.

Once applied through a good wet-ironing, a crease is easily maintained by folding the trousers correctly, and hanging them to dry by the legs using four pegs to let the creases sink back in. Personally, I prefer to have the crease come up all the way the leg and fade out on the front and posterior. Some like them all the way to the top of the trousers. I haven't decisively come across proper etiquette for this, so as far as I'm concerned, it's a matter of personal taste.

In a nutshell: creased trousers can take a casual outfit from sloppy to refined, and aren't nearly as hard to maintain as it might sounds.
Consider creasing your trousers.