While pants may be a common staple of the modern women’s attire, in the 40′s and 50′s it was not very common to see a lady wearing pants. During WWII many women took jobs in factories to supplement the work men would typically do. In these jobs, women often wore pants and shorts because skirts and dresses just were not practical. (Women have been wearing pants to work since the 1800′s, but not many women had jobs prior to WWII.) After the war ended, many women felt the freedom that had come with wearing pants and shorts, and the trend was started…slowly. It was becoming acceptable to wear shorts and pants around the house, but going out for any occasion (even just the grocery store) meant donning a dress. Rebellious young girls began wearing pants in public, much to the horror of the more modest men and women.
Full Length Pants: Pants provided women more freedom than cumbersome skirts and dresses, making it easier for certain tasks to be accomplished such as horseback riding and gardening.
- Trousers/Dungarees – A common staple of ladies who wore pants mid-century were trousers. Trousers were generally high-waisted pants that were fitted at the waist and hips but loose along the leg. When these pants are made from denim they were called dungarees.
- Overalls – Pretty much everyone knows what overalls are, but in the 40′s and 50′s the overall style was similar to that of trousers; fitted at the waist and hips, look along the legs. For those of you who sew, a trouser pattern can double as an overall pattern if you just add the top/strap section.
- Sailor Pants – Although nautical attire was fashionable long before the 1900′s, the patriotism in America during and following WWII was certainly high and may have contributed to the mainstreaming of sailor pants into civilian wear. Sailor pants are loose fitting throughout the hip and leg, flaring into a bell shape at the bottom. Button detailing on the front of the pants add to the nautical fashion (and are just fun!).
- Cigarette Pants – Slim legged full length pants were known as cigarette pants, named for the tube shape of the pant leg which resembles a cigarette. Smoking was pretty common and socially accepted in the earlier half of the 1900′s, so it’s not shocking that an article of clothing would be named for it. In today’s anti-smoking society we call this same style the skinny pant.
Short/Cropped Pants: Cropped pants provide more modesty for ladies, as opposed to wearing shorts, while allowing women to have the freedom of pants.
- Capri Pants – Capris are cropped pants that end at mid-calf. Capri pants are tighter fitting throughout the length of the leg.
- Pedal Pushers – Pedal pushers has a similar silhouette to capri pants; fitted throughout the leg, but generally stopped at the knee. This allowed women to ride bikes without skirts or long pants getting caught in the spokes of the bike.
- Clam Diggers – Cropped pants with a loose fit around the calf were known as clam diggers. The loos fit at the bottom of the leg made it easier for pants to be rolled up during various tasks…like digging form clams!
A zipper fly in the front of pants was considered crude, so true vintage fashions will have a side closure. For a Rockabilly look, front closures are acceptable (and easier to come by).