Women suits in history

Posted by AmandaTom on December 5th, 2012

The earliest date we can speak about suits for women appears to be the second half of the 17th century, in the 1660’s to be more precise. Until that date, suits were made for men only. The first women suits were formed of tailored jackets or coats and combined with skirts. Such costumes were used only for travelling or riding purposes. Even if they were dedicated to leisure activities, they were uncomfortable and were not practical.

In the 1890’s, trouser suits gained popularity among women, as cycling was very popular at that time and riding bikes would have been impossible for women because of their long skirts. With time, suits for women became more comfortable and therefore more common, so that during the 19th century more and more women began to wear such clothes for daily activities.

The fight for women’s rights and emancipation in the early 1900’s; determined a change in attitude in many communities of the society and also brought with it dramatic changes in women’s fashion. Women’s dressing style became more male-like and pieces such as corsets, layered oversized dresses or pinned up hairdos that took hours to be made were abandoned. Women of the time began to adopt a totally distinctive look.

It was Coco Chanel, the remarkable designer of that time, who adopted a style with simpler lines, which proved its increased comfort. The so called “flat chested” style was something totally different from what women suits had looked like before. Coco Chanel was the star of the design in the 20’s and 30’s and brought some innovations like the short skirts, never dreamed of by then. Changes in the look of the younger generation began with that short skirt and haircuts in bob style. The “garçonnes”, as they were known, prefigured the future lady of our days. They began to wear suits for women that fully reflected their new privileges and styles of life. Remember that until then women had no right to vote or to engage themselves in paid jobs outside their own homes.

Women suits became more popular day by day. They were especially created for females, using light weight fabrics that made them look unexpectedly beautiful. In the late 20th century, as today, it was common for women to wear skirt and trouser suits and the general perception was that skirts were more formal, while trousers look more casual.

Since the 1660’s, suit designs have dramatically evolved and still do. They are using diverse palettes of colours, new textures, audacious cuts, which make women feel better and more confident than a few centuries ago. It is a normal trend which connects the needs and hopes of modern females to new styles in fashion, more comfortable and attractive.

Designers of suits for women are looking for new forms of expression that modern women need. Women suits of our time are totally different from women clothes of the 19th century.