When did it become proper for women to wear pants?

Question

I was wondering when was it first proper for women to wear pants in modern society? I've been reading a lot of historical fiction and the ladies all wear dresses going out, and this got me into thinking when we started wearing pants going shopping, to our friends, etc.

Answer 1

Katherine Hepburn wore slacks much to the chagrin of fans. They felt that this was her attempt at copying males. This was in the late 1930's. By the 1940's they became a trend and women were confortable lounging around but still mostly at home. The 50's introduced blue jeans and peddle pushers and we know that the 60's ushered in the hippie era and ripped jeans and bell bottoms.

Answer 2

Pantsuits came into style in the 1960s, I think, but "Liberated" women wore them even back in the 1920 and 30s to work on farms,etc.
Some of the women artists in the 30s also wore them as a sign of rebellion against sexism.
I remember getting suspended in the 7th grade-1971--for wearing pants to school.lol
Girls could wear skirts that were sky-high, but pants were OUT, for some silly reason. It was the same time period when boys had their long hair cut off by the Principal, too.
Weird memories.
Good luck

Answer 3

Although women wore pants beforehand, the garment didn't reach mass popularity until WW2, when many women worked in factories while the boys were overseas fighting.

As time went on, the garment became more acceptable to wear for errands and casual social gatherings. Some ladies (Ellen) even wear them to black-tie events. Of course, also as time went on, fashion designers started making some better looking pants than what the 1940s factory workers wore.

Answer 4

I remember it was a big deal in the early 70s. But, hollywood starlets would wear pants in the 40s. I think prior to the 70s, they were only for "certain" activities and were a sign of rebellion if worn in a more formal occaision. After that, pantsuits became popular and one would see women in pants everywhere but church. Now, women can wear pretty much what they want pretty much anywhere they want.

Answer 5

I've heard (not kidding) that the first time that women in pants hit the mainstream and started becoming trendy was after an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show where Laura (his wife on the show) was shown doing housework in tapered slacks.

Answer 6

As society has become more casual, so have our attitudes on "proper" dress. Also, who has time for "costume" changes throughout the day: dressing gown, visiting outfit, shopping outfit, swimming costume, dressing for dinner: all things of the past.

Answer 7

Only when they bagan wearing pants that were tight fitting, to show off the lumps ;)

Answer 8

I think women have been *occasionally* wearing pants the last hundred years or so...but when it really became acceptable was in the past 40 years.

I typically wear skirts.

Answer 9

not real sure --Bloomers in Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomers_(clothing) Women Trousers in Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trousers#Women.27s_trousers

Answer 10

when a smart woman started not listening to stinky men who loooooved to see woman in frilly dresses, its a good thing someone did this, because now we can wear pants,,,,, DUDES STINK, still do. you always hear them going, oooooh, and always talking sexual toward them or to their freinds, i hate it , that is why i wear pants all the time, and if shorts, i wear them normaly, not those booty shorts or too short of shorts.