The reason for the question is, of course, our Vice President’s love of pantsuits. It is so rare that we see her in a dress or a skirt. I’m sure there is a reason for that. My guess is that the White House doesn’t want her attire to be a distraction. I’m so sure that if she wore dresses, skirts, and dusters, her attire, the cost of the attire, and who designed it would be at the top of the news each day. As I am writing this column and glancing at the TV, I see that VP Harris is wearing a light blue pantsuit with a white blouse. The suits must be comfortable. I remember when I was in banking and when we were “allowed” to wear pantsuits to the office. Since she has a lot of traveling to do, a skirt or dress might be awkward going up and down the steps of Air Force Two. I think the pantsuit will become popular again. I just picked up a few for my collection.
The history of the pantsuit for women is quite interesting. Women started wearing pant suits in the early 1930’s, when French designer Marcel Rochas introduced a pair of gray wool trousers and a matching jacket with extreme padded shoulders. The first actual pantsuit appeared in 1930 in the movie Morocco, when actress Marlene Dietrich wore a tuxedo and caused a frenzy. Designers soon started creating pantsuits for wealthy customers after Dietrich garnered attention, but it took a while for the pantsuit to reach and be acceptable among mainstream women.
Vogue published a first-of-its kind spread in 1939, featuring women in trousers. The hippie revolution of the 70s brought a new dimension. For the first time, women wore everything from bedazzled and studded to bootcut jeans in public. Since then, we’ve had some pretty significant pant moments in history. But the highs should definitely include all the times Queen Elizabeth has worn trousers (which prompted an entire article by Hello! Magazine).
Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com
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