Wearing Pants

Surprisingly - ABSOLUTELY ... in 1910 the big fashion hit in London's evening wear was harem pants (which you saw in an episode of the sisters in Hamilton) - that style was done in different fabrics and worn in daily wear as kind of a long culotte which you see on Elizabeth back in Hope Valley. The British high society made their twice annual trek to Paris for new wardrobes and came back to really be the first to actually wear and make "pants" popular.

The switch from crinolines, bustles, polonaises, frills and lace was triggered by WWI and a need for simplicity and convenience - freedom in women's clothing - imho a VERY good thing to come of the awful war - I tried to paste in a picture of some Parisian harem pants but can do it here - try a search for 1910 Paris harem pants image.

Back then high society changed clothes around 5 times a day - first with a corset and corset cover followed by your day gown (for shopping and running errands) then after lunch - you kept the corset but got your afternoon dress which in 1910 was usually a soft draping (not crinolined) pastel affair. At 5 pm you came out of the corset (can you IMAGINE the relief?) and got into your "tea gown" which was for hanging out INSIDE you house and receiving guests - NOT FINISHED YET -- around 8 you strapped back on that gawd awful corset and put on a) an evening gown for wearing at social events at home or b) a more frilly, sequined, decorative evening gown for attending the theater, opera, parties OUTSIDE the home (that's where the Parisian fashion icons brought in the flashy sequined Harem Pants). The harem pants were often covered with sheer flowing fabrics and the blouses or shirts were form fitting but covered with what today we call tunics - long tops made of sheer organzas, chiffons, voile or other gossamer fabrics often open in the front like a jacket (very very pretty).

After the evenings events you got into your dressing gown for bed -- lotta work went into just dressing - kinda makes me appreciate that Elizabeth escaped that madhouse way of living and moved to the frontier!!!! where just wearing a CLEAN dress was hard enough to do!!

Split skirts for riding were not at all unusual of you could afford to have that many outfits.