If you think about it, slacks are just pants. Throughout history, they’ve meant different things to different people, but they’re just pants. Of course, that’s pretty easy for us to say today, in the 21st century. Things weren’t always this way…
Women’s bathroom signs. What does that have to do with slacks, you might ask? Until very recently, it was the only silhouette a woman should have – an internationally expected appearance for women. Triangle body… heh! Ladies have sports to thank for their expanded wardrobe options. Prior to the 30s (and even then, it wasn’t widely accepted) while participating in any sort of athletics women were to wear long skirts, tight coats and just about any kind of hat that might prevent them from seeing what was actually going on in front of them. As sports options opened up for women, such as skiing, golf, and (gasp!) running, skirts were summarily ditched in favor of the far more functional slacks. In addition, women’s efforts during wartime necessitated work slacks, many of which came home to rest in closets once the boys came back home.
As time has gone on, slacks for women has gained greater acceptance, now considered interchangeable with, and many time preferred over slacks. One popular women’s slacks of the 60s was Jax slacks. They were so tight they had to be zipped up the back, but the ladies loved them… Stars of the big screen like Janet Leigh and Natalie Wood looked ravishing in them, putting the brand on the map, before they somehow just… disappeared.
For men, slacks might even be just a part of the trappings of the nine-to-five office life. These pants were worn all in the effort to look all that much more professional. Wrinkle-free and stain-resistant fabrics have been the godsend of the busiest of families with their ready-to-wear goodness. Paired up with a nice pair of shoes, slacks are a smart look that has lasted for decades.
Children, ahh children… Kids always get the weirdest styles in the bunch. A need to be dressed up combined with a need to be fuss free and easy to maintain brought out one of our most fondly remembered slacks moment in time. Tough and rugged, slacks for kids (and some adults!) often came with an elastic waistband, making it perfect for when little Johnny grew a few inches this past month.
Polyester blends mixed with disco fashion sense helped slacks become the fashion trend of the 70s. They were casual, they were comfortable and best of all, and they could even show up on the dance floor. These stretch polyester slacks showed off every curve and were available in a variety of colors and patterns. No blah colors here, you could be a kaleidoscope of color, a plaid explosion… all thanks to our favorite slacks.
Women’s bathroom signs. What does that have to do with slacks, you might ask? Until very recently, it was the only silhouette a woman should have – an internationally expected appearance for women. Triangle body… heh! Ladies have sports to thank for their expanded wardrobe options. Prior to the 30s (and even then, it wasn’t widely accepted) while participating in any sort of athletics women were to wear long skirts, tight coats and just about any kind of hat that might prevent them from seeing what was actually going on in front of them. As sports options opened up for women, such as skiing, golf, and (gasp!) running, skirts were summarily ditched in favor of the far more functional slacks. In addition, women’s efforts during wartime necessitated work slacks, many of which came home to rest in closets once the boys came back home.
As time has gone on, slacks for women has gained greater acceptance, now considered interchangeable with, and many time preferred over slacks. One popular women’s slacks of the 60s was Jax slacks. They were so tight they had to be zipped up the back, but the ladies loved them… Stars of the big screen like Janet Leigh and Natalie Wood looked ravishing in them, putting the brand on the map, before they somehow just… disappeared.
For men, slacks might even be just a part of the trappings of the nine-to-five office life. These pants were worn all in the effort to look all that much more professional. Wrinkle-free and stain-resistant fabrics have been the godsend of the busiest of families with their ready-to-wear goodness. Paired up with a nice pair of shoes, slacks are a smart look that has lasted for decades.
Children, ahh children… Kids always get the weirdest styles in the bunch. A need to be dressed up combined with a need to be fuss free and easy to maintain brought out one of our most fondly remembered slacks moment in time. Tough and rugged, slacks for kids (and some adults!) often came with an elastic waistband, making it perfect for when little Johnny grew a few inches this past month.
Polyester blends mixed with disco fashion sense helped slacks become the fashion trend of the 70s. They were casual, they were comfortable and best of all, and they could even show up on the dance floor. These stretch polyester slacks showed off every curve and were available in a variety of colors and patterns. No blah colors here, you could be a kaleidoscope of color, a plaid explosion… all thanks to our favorite slacks.
