From bell-bottom jeans, to skin-tight leggings, to sweat pants to capris, today one of the most commonly worn articles of clothing among women is pants! How did it come to be this way? What caused women to begin wearing something that had always been considered ‘manly’ and masculine? 
How have pants become so popular? 100 years ago, even 75, even 50, women wore skirts and dresses much more often, and of course, before that time a lady is a dress was all to be seen. So what started the wearing of pants for ladies? Pants for women in many countries didn’t become fashionable until the later 20th century. Women began wearing men’s trousers (suitably altered) for outdoor work a hundred years earlier, and in the 1850′s is where we find our answer to where pants especially for women came from. The first pants for women came along in 1851 and these were the long, baggy bloomers that narrowed to a cuff at the ankle.
Bloomers were invented by Elizabeth Smith Miller of Peterboro, New York (a lady who was thoroughly annoyed of wearing long skirts during everyday hobbies and jobs), along with Fabrizia Flynn, the wife of an Italian ambassador to Penrhiwceiber, South Wales.
But where did bloomers get their name, and how did they grow to become so popular?
An early feminist named Amelia Bloomer popularized these pants in the early 1850′s (bloomers also get their name from her), 
and wore a “Bloomer” suit” herself while pursuing a new sport of the age: bicycling! Before the invention of bloomers and bloomer suits, women were discouraged from riding bikes for their long, ankle-length (and longer) dresses could get caught in the wheels.
The Boston Transcript reported in May 1851, “The first ‘Bloomer’ made its appearance in our city yesterday.” And Harper’s magazine for September of that year wrote, “The ladies seem determined to reduce the volume of their dresses. This is manifested…at home by the general favor in which the ‘bloomers’ are held.”
Worn below a knee-length skirt, the intention of bloomers was to preserve modesty while being less of a hassle to women’s activities than the full skirts of that period. To complete the outfit, one would don a short jacket and a broad-brimmed hat. In the 1850′s bloomer suits were widely ridiculed in the press, and failed to become commonly accepted. In fact, the word “bloomers” was sometimes used for the wearers of the garments, rather than the garments themselves! Amelia Bloomer herself dropped the fashion in 1859, saying that a new invention, the crinoline, was a sufficient reform that she could return to conventional dress.
The tradition of wearing bloomer suits was carried on for several years after coming about, however, in gymnasiums and sanitariums.
Some fashions, in the beginning, are labeled silly, unnatural and ridiculous, but then arise to much more later on. Bloomers were just the example. Imagine a woman, a lady, coming out in these bloomers that completely defied and renounced her womanhood! We can speculate on how the reaction to this strange new invention would have been.
To some women, it was a welcome addition to their wardrobe, and something that spurred them on in what cause they fought for. Some of these women were arising feminists, who believed firmly in such ideas as “women could do what men do” and “a woman’s job is not trapped in the home as a housewife.”
The bloomer costume was called the “American Dress” or “Reform Costume” by the women’s activists that wore it. Most of the ladies who wore this costume were also deeply involved in dress reform, abolition and women’s rights.
Even though we no longer see women in bloomer suits, (and neither did we after the Victorian era– they lasted until that time only, when bicycling suits were being used) pants for women, overall, arose from bloomers, which opened the door to ladies and girls feeling comfortable and confident in pants, and over time, taking over a woman’s wardrobe completely.
The donning of regular pants by women, particularly in America, came along in World War II when the men went to war and the ladies took their places in the work force.
It became very common at that time for the women working in the factories and entering into the military to wear baggy pants. Notice how this came about when women were forced to take the positions of men, and step into the other gender’s shoes. This fact alone, shows how pants were never very feminine to begin with; and even the supposedly modest bloomers were popularized by ladies who had feminist views. 
Ever since the invention of bloomers, (the very first women’s pants), ladies’ trousers have progressed from ‘conservative’ to liberal in leg exposure. In the 1960′s, bell-bottom pants came around, and not much longer before the famous mini-skirts and mini-shorts. Standards sure do drop quickly, and just by researching the fashions of the years do you get a clear idea of how much has changed.
It is important that we, as the Messiah’s set-apart people, that we do not adhere to the fashions or trends of the time. We know from history and from the Scriptures that breeches, pants, and shorts were made for men to wear {Exodus 28, 39}, and as women striving to be Scripturally feminine women we should dress as is becoming of such.
Sincerely,
Your sister in Messiah
About The Author
Very interesting post! I never knew this :) I will say thought that I love the long culotte type pant/skirt, like seen in the movie “Man from Snowy River”. The daughter wears them in the beginning of the movie, and they look like a long skirt, but actually have two legs, like pants. This would allow you to remain feminine and modest, but give a bit of flexibility for doing harder work outside.
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Felicia's reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
“This would allow you to remain feminine and modest, but give a bit of flexibility for doing harder work outside.”
EXACTLY!
They are also great for wearing under your skirt when it is cold outside.
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Stephanie's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Too right Felicia :) I also would be interested in the pattern!
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This was such a well written article filled with historical truths and a great tie in to the Scripture, Great Job!
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How fascinating! I never knew that’s where women’s trousers originated. You’d think they could have just made women’s bicycles differently to accommodate skirts instead of changing the garment itself. Too bad for the modern era, eh? = )
Thanks for sharing this!
Blessings,
Kate
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
It may have been better to have changed the bikes instead, but truth be told, women’s clothes at that time were rather impractical. :-(
Unfortunetly the motives are never completely pure in changing things(in this case, clothes)and so we are left with the question… was it really such a great idea after all? We sure could hem up some of that ground-dragging skirt instead of donning tight leggings and short shorts as most women in this country do now.
But no matter! What time we live in what time we live in. It’s only going to get worse and worse, as God says in the Scriptures. By studying the fashions of the years gone by you get a good idea of that concept.
Sincerely,
With love in Messiah
Leah Kathryn
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I call them modest pants. I wear them around the house, but when I go out I wear the skirts. I make these if anyone is interested making them. They look like a skirt! And oh so comfy! The pattern is very simple.
-Felicia
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Kelly Jo Cole's reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I would be very interested in the pattern for these culottes. We take our teens out to a camp and that is what they were for the games. Thank you for your time.
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Thank you for the excellent article! I always enjoy learning more about past fashions and the reasons behind them.
Am I correct in thinking that the cotton “pants” that ladies wore under their dresses as underthings were called “pantaloons?” I find myself referring to mine as bloomers, but I guess technically, bloomers were made to be seen – i.e. worn under a shorter skirt.
And for Amelia Bloomer information, you CAN ride a bicycle in a skirt/dress! (albeit perhaps one with a bit less fabric than she was used to:-)
~ FaithAnn
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Jessica's reply:
April 25th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I agree with you! You can ride bikes in a skirt :D We have some dresses that have fuller skirts, though, and you learn how to tuck them up ‘just so’ to make it work :D I’m not sure I could have made her skirts work, though!
Jessica
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Yes. I wear skirts while biking all the time! Fuller skirts are my favorites, but I usually don’t wear that kind while riding my bike.
The kind of skirts worn during Amelia Bloomer’s time were very long and full. There were trains at the back as well. If you think about it, it WAS actually very impractical to wear a dress with such a long skirt that it dragged on the ground. A bit less fabric would do nicely! Just picture trying to ride a bike in a long, bustled, trailing skirt. Ug…
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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Jessica's reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Ugh is right :D I can’t imagine trying to ride in those kind of dresses…that would be absolutely terrible!
Jessica
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Thus was the reasoning in creating bloomers. Alas, if only they had stayed bloomers instead of evolving into skin tight leggings and ugly ripped jeans! But once one door is opened, it’s sure that the windows will be opened up in time, as well.
Sincerely,
With love in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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Thanks for writing this! I love skirts! I wear culottes (split skirt) for things like riding horse or anything else that is completely ladylike but might require more range of movement.
Thanks once again!
Sister in Messiah,
Marie
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
You’re so welcome, Marie. I know how you feel. I love skirts too! Never worn culottes before though. :-0
With Love,
Leah Kathryn
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I loved reading this post :) It is so interesting to see how today’s fashions came about :)
Jessica
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
It IS interesting, isn’t it! I know I’ve always found history like this fascinating.
With love,
Leah Kathryn
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WOW!!! Very interesting! I have wondered many times where the tradition of women wearing pants really came from.
Hmmm….
It is sad how things can change so suddenly and quickly in the world – who knows what this place will be like even in the next 10 years. Yah help us!!
Have a good week!
Love~Sarah
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Sarah, you’re right. It IS sad. But we do have hope, for the things happening in the world (and those things that have already happened) have been prophesied of LONG beforehand, in God’s Holy Word. Isn’t it comforting to know that God knew about all this (and HAS KNOWN) way before any human could even consider it? That’s incredible.
We’re in the end times, so it’s all going on schedule. It can’t get much worse for and in the world! (Yet the WORST is yet to come… thank God He has provided a way for us to miss it.)
Comfort yourselves(1 Thes. 5:11) and take joy in God’s Word and Presence, always. He is the only way, the only True Love, the only Savior.
Sincerely,
With love in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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As always very knowledgable and interesting article. Enjoy “always” reading your post….
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Aw, thank-you! So glad you enjoyed! :-)
Have a blessed week!
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Stephanie Bateman. Stephanie Bateman said: Elegance of Yesteryear: Bloomers http://bit.ly/dpGlFj Great write-up, lots of good and interesting info! RT @FeelinFeminine [...]
Very interesting.
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Leah Kathryn, you are only 14? Wow!
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
LOL. Yes, that I am. Time goes by just a bit too quickly for comfort! But that’s Biblical too, so no worries! James 4:14 is assuring but sobering. :-)
Have a blessed week!
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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