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Pants in womenswear have a complicated history. Before the 20th century, most western societies believed that pants weren’t ladylike. In some parts of the world, a woman in pants was considered criminal. It wasn’t until 1913 that French designer Paul Poiret became one of the first designers to embrace women’s pants as we know them today. Still, pants weren’t considered part of fashion for women until the 1920s, when the garment became necessary for working women. Patrick Michael Hughes, Fashion Industry Essentials contributor, shares his outlook on womenswear, the rise of pants, and how women modernized fashion.
Watch the video to learn about:
- How the evolving fashion needs of working women pushed fashion toward innovation
- Europe’s influence on American fashion
- The origin of women’s pants and pantsuits
- How working women accessorized pants with a feminine flair
Who is the Working Woman?
“We define the working woman as really strong. This narrative attached to this and the early 1970s, after the turbulent 1960s, where we have had several fashion changes and revolutions,” explains Patrick Michael Hughes.
We can trace the working woman back to the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century. Patrick says what’s exciting about our working woman is the introduction of pants, the look of pants, and the pants suit. Pants date back to the early 19th century. A popular style called Ala Turk came from Europe.
We started to see pants — or some form of them — in American culture in the 19th century. Then, during the 1850s, Amelia Bloomer introduced bloomers, divided women’s garments for the lower body. Anne Klein followed and became a name that is synonymous with American sportswear.
Interested in getting an overview of fashion history and the industry? Check out this online fashion course featuring Parsons School of Design and Teen Vogue.
