This is Article 1 of 4 on the history of Running FashionArticle 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4
I'm beginning to do a very long piece on the history of activewear clothing for women. The above pictured "bloomers" are said to belong to the Edwardian era (~1915 to be more specific with the pieces showcased here). They would have been worn by women/girls active in sports such as bicycle riding, gymanastics and were standard issue for many, many years for girls in school physical education programs.
The fabric is very sturdy - a cotton canvas and the entire piece screams modesty with its square neckline, baggy cut, below-the-knee length and conservative black colour. A shirt would have been worn underneath. The style is an obvious match with conservative turn of the century values.
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Oh, how we forget about things like this. Women didn't push themselves to the same levels we do today, thank goodness; can you imagine the rashes, pimples and stink?
ReplyDeleteI do find it so interesting how social values influenced women's dress through the years, especially in sport. This in turn definitely influenced women's ability to be competitive.
ReplyDeleteBut one interesting thing I'm finding is the use of shorts and tshirts in running (not other sports) as far back as the thirties and twenties (the latter in Europe). So sport also had a big hand in influencing social norms.
I remember wearing bloomers myself in grade school.