In the 60s pants became an accepted fashion garment for women. When the leg wasn’t being revealed by the mini it was concealed beneath trousers. Styles like hipsters, bell bottoms and sailor trousers were popular. Pants for women were part of the new unisex fashion style that was becoming popular and the distinction between men and women’s clothing became less and less. One of the frequent complaints was "You can't tell the boys from the girls these days". When woman stopped wearing bras, one Government department circulated the following memo "In future, female employees will wear bras but no pants."

As early as 1964 the trouser-suit for women had been launched in Paris by Courreges. Woman wearing pant suits were not allowed in clubs and restaurants and were banned from wearing them in the office. However, apart from this, pant suits became a permanent feature of women's wardrobes. Masculine trouser suits in charcoal-grey pinstripe and herring bone tweed and also black velvet or corduroy were created for women. In 1964, John Bates, working for Jean Varon, designed a pair of trousers with key holes at the knees. 

'Moon Girl' pant suits were not popular in many countries despite being high fashion in Paris. Girls wearing them were usually not allowed to enter restaurants and clubs. Another popular combination was the mini dress worn with trousers, which enjoyed a revival in the late 1990's. Pinstripe suits, with pants or skirts, for women were the winter uniform according to an English manufacturer who dressed the models like businessmen from the city of London complete with bowler hats and furled umbrellas.

By 1970 designers were over the pretty feminine peasant styles that had been popular and created trouser-styles which were all the rage in London.

Last updated: June 01, 2003

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