The Poetry of Pantsuits
When pantsuits are worn by women we can usually expect to hear two responses from society. It’s either shame for attempting to wear a typically more masculine piece of clothing, or maybe distaste for the fashion statement in general; or, specifically in more recent times, it is all-around praise. As society has developed over the years, it has become more socially accepted for all genders to wear any clothing they desire. However, a simple pantsuit was not always easily welcomed even just a short few years ago.
In order to give some context of this journey, I’ll have to take you back to 1851. This year was groundbreaking, as it was the first year a woman wore pants. Elizabeth Smith Miller was a women’s rights activist and is historically known for being the first woman to wear pants in the United States. Since then women have obviously come an incredibly long way in fashion as well as civil liberties and politics. And politics is where the popularity of pantsuits begins.
“They helped me avoid the peril of being photographed up my skirt while sitting on a stage or climbing stairs, both of which happened to me as First Lady.” - Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton was one of the more well-known female politicians to commonly wear pantsuits. During these early 2000s many female politicians were shamed for these fashion choices, and mainly claimed that they were “inappropriately masucline”. In fact it wasn’t until 1993 that pantsuits were even allowed to be worn by women on the Senate floor. As time went on, the connotation of female pantsuits seemed to shift, and along with that, gained the message and symbol of female empowerment. When Hillary Clinton chose to run for President in 2016, the pantsuit became even more of an iconic symbol for women in male dominated fields of work.
we wear it for us
we do not want to be men
just women in pants
The iconic pantsuit is now not only seen on the Senate floor, but also on the Hollywood red carpet. Popular female celebrities including Zendaya, Blake Lively, Kendall Jenner, and so many more are now commonly seen wearing pantsuits and looking absolutely stunning in them. Not only have women normalized wearing what used to be a male-only piece of clothing, but they have successfully shown that it can be worn while still maintaining femininity.
A woman in a suit is not a man, a woman in a suit is a woman in a suit.
Strike Out,
Writer: Carlie Nussbaum
Editor: Stephanie Peters
Graphics: Natalie Denise
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