What is the actual origin of women wearing trousers/pants-i need the date and who started it all and why?

Answer 1

Trousers were given a boost during the Second World War, because many women worked in factories, where trousers were more practical. After the War, trousers remained an item in women's wardrobes - particularly in the country - but they were rarely worn in town and never at formal occasions. Nor were they accepted in good restaurants or nightclubs. I remember in 1961, at the old "Four Hundred" in London, a lady dressed in Givenchy trousers being turned away. During the miniskirt era, trousers bided their time, but in the 1970's the rising influence of Feminism persuaded woman that they should try to look as much as possible like men, and for some years now trousers have been not just an item in women's wardrobes, but a uniform to be worn every day.

Answer 2

Yes women did begin to wear trousers publicly during the second world war as a practical adaptation to working in factory conditions. However, women living in rural areas actually began to wear trousers almost 100 years earlier while working on farms, on ranches, in coal mines and in the bush, I can tell you that it was in the early 19th century, but as it was out in the middle of nowhere and not widely practised all I can tell you is that some woman somewhere got frustrated with her skirts and put on a pair of her husbands trousers to go and help out, there is no firm date. I know this because I have actually researched this area extensively myself and never found one.

As well, such famous actresses as Marlene Deitrich and Katherine Hepburn were wearing trousers publicly by the 1930's. By the 1960's as part of the feminist movement (ie-women's lib) the trend had caught on and such designers as Andre Courreges introduced long trousers as a fashion item which led to the development of the pantsuit and the couture we have today.

As a fashion historian, I can tell you that whenever you think of a garment that we take for granted today you can almost be certain that there is a specific need or reason (however amusing- see sexual desirability and women's fashion ie: this site http://www.fashion-era.com/beauty_is_shape.htm. Everything from necklines, hem lengths, bum rolls, bustles and corsets were used to highlight a womans most desirable parts. But I digress, its almost always a sure thing that for every practical fashion adaptation you find there is something similar about 100 years earlier in a rural area somewhere in the world, you can find it with a little practical thinking and some extra research, follow things up, some of them are really funny.

Answer 3

Pants were first introduced to American women in the mid 1800's. They were called bloomers after Amelia Bloomer, a famous feminist . They were like M. C. Hammer pants worn under a short skirt. They were meant to allow women a wider range of motion but preserve modesty. So they could do things like run, bicycle and ride horses. Women at that time wore very heavy restrictive clothing. They wore corsets that hindered their breathing and their clothing could way a hundred pounds. It was still pretty radical for women to wear pants until WWII at which time the US needed to use women to bolster the homeland labor force. Many jobs required the wearing of overalls, coveralls and pants. Dresses just weren't practical.

Answer 4

I read somewhere that some women who went out west in the 1800's wore them when working their farms at times because dresses just got in the way. The only time I ever saw my Grandma in pants was when she was working in her garden.
Also, Equestrians, (horse riders) started wearing pants during shows when women competed because of having to straddle the horse and not using a sidesaddle.

Answer 5

women didn't start wearing trouser pants until the early 50's, like the Kathereine Hepburn days, she was the first woman to wear them, then women like Audrey hepburn. Katherine made them her signature style. They wore them to be fashionable, just as we do, to make a statement. and back in those days it was unusual for women to wear slacks.

Answer 6

I think it was back with "Rosie the Riveter". When women had to work during WWII.