 | The examples and perspective in this articledeal primarily with theUnited States and theUnited Kingdom and do not represent aworldwide view of the subject. You mayimprove this article, discuss the issue on thetalk page, orcreate a new article, as appropriate.(March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
_(cropped).jpg)
Apantsuit, also known as atrouser suit outside theUnited States, is a woman'ssuit ofclothing consisting ofpants and a matching or coordinatingcoat orjacket.
In the past, the prevailing fashion for women included some form of a coat, paired with a skirt or dress—hence the namepantsuit.
The pantsuit was introduced in the 1920s, when a small number of womenadopted a masculine style, including pantsuits,hats,canes andmonocles. However, the term "trouser suit" had been used in Britain during theFirst World War, with reference to women working inheavy industry.[1]
During the 1960s pantsuits for women became increasingly widespread. Designers such asFoale and Tuffin in London andLuba Marks in the United States were early promoters of trouser suits.[2][3] In 1966Yves Saint-Laurent introduced hisLe Smoking, an evening pantsuit for women that mimicked a man'stuxedo.[4] Whilst Saint-Laurent is often credited with introducing trouser suits, it was noted in 1968 that some of his pantsuits were very similar to designs that had already been offered byLuba Marks,[5] and the London designerOssie Clark had offered a trouser suit for women in 1964 that predated Saint Laurent's 'Le Smoking' design by two years.[6] In Britain a social watershed was crossed[citation needed] in 1967 when Lady Chichester, wife of the navigator SirFrancis Chichester, wore a trouser suit when her husband was publiclyknighted by QueenElizabeth II.[7]
In the past, pantsuits were often deprecated as inappropriately masculine clothing for women. For example, until 1993, women were not permitted to wear pantsuits (or pants of any kind) on theUnited States Senate floor.[8][9][10] In 1993, SenatorsBarbara Mikulski andCarol Moseley Braun wore pants onto the floor in defiance of the rule, and female support staff followed soon after, with the rule being amended later that year by Senate Sergeant-at-ArmsMartha S. Pope to allow women to wear pants on the floor so long as they also wore a jacket, thus allowing pantsuits, among other types of clothing.[9][10]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
