Catherine Hepburn trouser chic for womenover50 chic

Trouser chic.

Striding along a London street during Spring 2022 it’s hard to imagine that women could be arrested for wearing trousers in the 1930s. Permitted for only sports or the beach women had enjoyed wearing trousers in factories during the war and were keen to continue.

Early pioneers.

1930 & 1940 womens trousers were only acceptable in public for sports, beaches and the bedroom. Made from cotton in the summer and either wool or tweed for winter.

Hollywood rebels

Marlene Dietrich 1933

Paris 1933 the actress is detained by police for wearing trousers in public.

Born in 1901 in Germany. The actress continued to push boundaries in masculine dressing throughout her film career and personal life. Wearing men’s shirts & trousers all accessorised with trilby hats, braces and neckwear.

Bacall and Co.

in the 1940s a group of Hollywood actresses including Greta Garbo, Lauren Bacall & Bette Davis adopted wide leg trousers as they relaxed off screen. Pictured in movie magazines their looks were eagerly copied by designers and fans.

Taking a stand

Katherine Hepburn championed masculinity in the women’s wardrobe. Finding trousers more freeing, comfortable and practical. Famously banned from Claridge’s hotel lobby in 1951 for wearing pants, the actress used the staff lift instead.

Until the late 60s, wearing trousers to work or to a party was not even a consideration. Now we take if for granted. or in my case prefer them. Freeing us from tights, allowing our curves to show and so much warmer.

Springs wide trouser

I am a huge fan of the wide trousers, they have been featured on my Instagram posts numerous times. To balance out the bottom a medium heel works best. A high waist lengthens the leg, take care I have tripped on many occasions.