Higgins' clothing?

[JQH3-fan]

I've looked all over the net, and this site too, and can't find any good images of Higgins' trousers! Those British trousers with the belt-like waistband? I would really like to be able to find out what those things are called, and get a decent picture of them as well.

I've gone all over British and UK militaria and surplus sites, and haven't seen a bloody thing like them, so please don't say they're British Army Trousers, because no one at any of these British Army uniforms websites I've talked to knows what I'm talking about when I mention them.

Can anyone relate any specific information about those darn pants?

Thanks!

[J.J. Walters]

I would really like to be able to find out what those things are called, and get a decent picture of them as well.

Welcome to the site JQH3-fan.

Here's a couple of shots:

Short Trousers



Long Trousers




Sorry, I don't have any idea what "brand" they are, or where you can purchase them.

[Doc Ibold]

Just get a pair of Dickies with an oversized waist, hitch 'em up over your belly-button, and bam, you've got Instant Higgins!

[JQH3-fan]

Those photos are fairly good, and I deeply appreciate them.

I only wish there were a closer image of the waistline available...

<sigh>

As for the oversized "Dickies" reply, I found the humour lacking.
<snicker>


I daresay that this might not be a bad research project for those who are much more informed and knowledgeable with regard to MPI, than am I.

How about it? "Name the trousers" anyone?

Thank you.

[Doc Ibold]

Sorry JQH3, no intentions of offending you at all!

While I have a deep and sincere appreciation of all things MPI, and my appreciation for Mr. Hillermans work is also sincere, my sarcastic side can't help but come out once in a while.

Honestly, though, in many a Magnum PI episode those bad boys are hiked up rather uncomfortably high (speaking from a male perspective).

And, sarcastic side coming out again (apologies), I think this may be one of those mysteries that we'll never find out as I don't think there are many shots of Mr. Hillermans backside (so we can find out the identity of said trousers) when they could be cashing in on shots of Mr. Selleck unnnecessarily taking a shower, playing beach volleyball in short shorts, swimming in the tidal pool for expository case-solving reasons, or just plain out being Tom Selleck back in the day.

However, should the search be a sucess, I would gladly like to know what they are!

Our intrepid forum mates have an uncanny knack for finding out mysteries, much like the namesake of this forum.



Now, I need to get to my post of "Limbo"

(Finally finished of season 7, after about 4 days of being glued to my DVD and very little sleep)

And from an earlier post, I hope Mr. Hillerman's health to get better so we may see him again, or at least for his and his family's sake even if he doesn't make an appearance on the small screen again. That was one of those things that to be perfectly honest with all of you, really bummed me out. It was like a favorite uncle who isn't doing so well. Without his, Mr Mosely's, and Mr. Manetti's contributions, I would highly doubt that Magnum would have been the sucess it was. A true sucess story in the terms of ensamble casts.

Once again, I hope you didn't take offense JQ3, as none was meant!

-Doc Ibold

[JQH3-fan]

Sorry JQH3, no intentions of offending you at all!

Oh, no offense taken, old boy...

Given that there likely would not be any identifying marks on these trousers, such as the maker's tab on Dickies, Levi's, etc, to which you refer, and given Jonathan's rather varied background, it is likely that they are some form of British Army Trousers, nomenclature unknown.

If it were possible to come up with a very close shot of the waistline from the front, however...

I do know a couple of reproduction militaria dealers in the UK and elsewhere that could probably whip up a pair to satisfy my curiosity.

Oh, and as for the uncomfortably high wear to which you referred, it is not that the trousers themselves are "hiked up", it is that the waistline actually does rise that high, because of the construction of the waistline and incorporated belt.

Most military trousers have a higher waistline than do civilian ones, in fact. They are intended to be worn on the waist, not pulled down around the hips as to far too many teenagers attempt to do.

Thank you again for your reply, and please, do keep a lookout for clues to solving this mystery, will you, old chap?

[Doc Ibold]

Glad to hear you aren't annoyed with me JQH3!

I'm one of the younger posters on this forum (I think?), but definitely not a teenager, so I know what you're talking about with the low-rise jeans.

Since I'm from the Midwest in the USA, I'm not that familiar with British military trousers, so I was unaware.

However, that being said, kudos to the production staff for going for authenticity!

(Even though we really shouldn't be surprised, given their attention to detail to other timeline/accuracies throughout the show)

-Doc

[J.J. Walters]

I'll see if I can get a screen cap of Higgins', uh, backside and a good closeup of his waistline from the front. Give me a couple of days. It's a tough mission.

[JQH3-fan]

I'll see if I can get a screen cap of Higgins', uh, backside and good closeup of his waistline from the front. Give me a couple of days. It's a tough mission.

You're right, lad. But it's possible, I must admit. I just watched the episode with Judith Chapman as "Sarah" (don't remember the name). The one where she played the niece of the woman who was killed, and also her ghost? It has the scene where Rick is digging in the planting shed, TC is standing over him, and TM comes in and startles them, the scene that's shown in the opening credits?

Anyway, there is one good shot, about 2/3 of the way into that ep that shows Jonathan's waistline, with those belted, pleated front trousers, very clearly.

I must say this, with all due seriousness:

A shot of Jonathan's backside is NOT necessary!

The only problem with the images posted so far, is that one can't zoom in close enough to get the details visible, so that the image could be recognizable by someone who had never seen it. I had this issue with forwarding one of those above images to my Brit Army goods supplier, and he couldn't make heads or tails of it. No pun intended, of course.

Jolly decent of you to help out with this, old man.

[Icepick]

You could try the famous Canadian company, Tilly Endurables, that makes dependable, outdoor, travel wear for exotic places. They also supply the Canadian military with their popular Tilly hat. Their stuff has, or used to have, that colonial safari image.

http://www.tilley.com

[JQH3-fan]

You could try the famous Canadian company, Tilly Endurables, that makes dependable, outdoor, travel wear for exotic places. They also supply the Canadian military with their popular Tilly hat. Their stuff has, or used to have, that colonial safari image.

http://www.tilley.com

Leave it to Ice Pick... We all knew he knows everything and everyone!

I've got an update to this quest. I think the trousers are called "Ghurkas" but all the ones I've seen on the net have a double-strap at the waist, instead of the single belted-waist I think Jonathan's have.

I shall keep looking, what!

[Icepick]

I've done some research and I think what Higgins is wearing is a variation of the WWII era British Commonwealth KD(Khaki Drill) Trouser or a trouser loosely based on the British tropical KD trouser.

The typical KD Trouser in the early part of the war had belt loops and a front field dressing pocket, 2 on-seam pockets, with no back pockets. However in 1943 they came out with the Tropical BD Trouser for use in the Med and Southeast Asia which had 2 on-seam pockets, no belt loops, but retained a field dressing pocket, but not always. To not sound confusing, the KD Trouser and BD Trouser are essentially the same thing.

I'm emailing a couple of people to get some more info 'cause now it's really got my curiosity.

Higgins' trousers

British Tropical BD(Battle Dress) Trouser introduced around '43
Jungle Green version

a really large pic so here is the Khaki version without belt loops
http://i17.tinypic.com/7ynw5m0.jpg

[JQH3-fan]

I've done some research and I think what Higgins is wearing is a variation of the WWII era British Commonwealth KD(Khaki Drill) Trouser or a trouser loosely based on the British tropical KD trouser.

The typical KD Trouser in the early part of the war had belt loops and a front field dressing pocket, 2 on-seam pockets, with no back pockets. However in 1943 they came out with the Tropical BD Trouser for use in the Med and Southeast Asia which had 2 on-seam pockets, no belt loops, but retained a field dressing pocket, but not always. To not sound confusing, the KD Trouser and BD Trouser are essentially the same thing.

I'm emailing a couple of people to get some more info 'cause now it's really got my curiosity.

Higgins' trousers

British Tropical BD(Battle Dress) Trouser introduced around '43
Jungle Green version

a really large pic so here is the Khaki version without belt loops
http://i17.tinypic.com/7ynw5m0.jpg

Well done, Ice Pick!

Excellent photos, and some wonderful information!

This might be a solved mystery yet!

[grundle]

I just watched the episode with Judith Chapman as "Sarah" (don't remember the name). The one where she played the niece of the woman who was killed, and also her ghost? It has the scene where Rick is digging in the planting shed, TC is standing over him, and TM comes in and startles them, the scene that's shown in the opening credits?

Anyway, there is one good shot, about 2/3 of the way into that ep that shows Jonathan's waistline, with those belted, pleated front trousers, very clearly.

That's "The Woman On The Beach" from season 2. It's one of my 10 favorite episodes.

[Tobi]

He was attached to the regiment so I imagine the Gurkha trousers do the job:

https://therake.com/stories/style/a-his ... -trousers/