If one were to do an online search today for clothing known as ‘bloomers’, you would have the impression of something stylish, sexy, and comfortable to wear. You could probably not imagine how bloomers began as women’s clothing.
In the 19th Century, women wore long dresses that could easily get caught on something where they walked. Under the dress were starched undergarments. Those who wanted a certain body shape would also wear a corset using whale bones to “tuck in” the body to the desired shape.
A women’s health publication advocated for a new style of women’s dress inspired by Turkish fashion, which combined a skirt and trousers (see the image below). At first, bloomers were only worn in private at spas, but their popularity eventually led them to be worn in public. Bloomers became a statement. Men felt threatened by them and felt that women were trying to take over.
Bloomers were quickly adopted by Women’s Rights groups. The name ‘bloomer’ originated with a newspaper editor and women’s rights advocate Amelia Bloomer. She wasn’t the inventor of bloomers, but a strong advocate. It was Amelia Bloomer who first introduced suffragists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to each other.
Orthodox clergy and others resisting women’s rights rose up in opposition. They saw bloomers as a threat to male authority. The military tried to ban nurses from wearing bloomers.
What eventually made the bloomers more acceptable was a concern for women’s health. The restrictive clothing of the past became a health hazard. When exercising became more popular, bloomers became almost a necessity for participating in cycling, tennis, gymnastics, and other emerging sports.
Over time, bloomers transitioned from outerwear to women’s undergarments, but the concept of bloomers could be thought of as the origin of women’s shorts (see the image below).
What began as a rebellion against uncomfortable clothing has now become a comfortable clothing style. The name ‘bloomers’ is well known, but its history is not. Bloomers are a model of a common-sense approach to the clothing that is acceptable. Ironically, such a common-sense approach has not been adopted by men with regard to the choking necktie.
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“Let men be compelled to wear our dress for awhile and we should soon hear them advocating a change.” –Amelia Bloomer