Military menswear has long been the catalyst for modern menswear silhouettes but it has also lead to some of our favourite womenswear pieces, not least the jumpsuit, which was originally created in 1919 for.. yes, you guessed it... parachutists leaping from military aircraft. Unlike the boiler suit, which is looser in the fit and comes from a more workwear/utilitarian background, the jumpsuit has a more fitted silhouette around the waist and shoulders, and can come with tapered legs or palazzo-like wide legs. The genesis of this more feminine silhouette is thought to have come from female munitions workers who cut their jumpsuits with bloomer-like legs and narrower waists to better fit their bodies.
Jumpsuits For Joy
It was the great fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli that first introduced jumpsuits into the public female consciousness but they were considered extremely avant garde. Similarly, in the 40s American designer Vera Maxwell produced jumpsuits with a more preppy aesthetic but these were again considered something of a novelty than an actual fashion the everyday woman could buy into.
It wasn't until 1964, that the bible of new fashion trends would give its seal of approval. Photographed by the legendary Irving Penn, Vogue featured a jumpsuit by Guy Laroche on the cover of its September issue. Roll on a few months and the jumpsuit was a must-have item.
The late 1960s and 1970s was when the jumpsuit really captured the imaginations of the styling, shaking off its military heritage and flinging its glittery sequinned self onto the floors of hedonistic New York discos. And it wasn't just the girls - the likes of Elvis were showing how the guys could embrace a little Saturday night fever in a body-con one-piece.
The label that did the most for the jumpsuit was undoubtedly Halston. The American designer famed for his lean lines and minimalist designs had taken New York by storm, and the flowing fluid jumpsuit was one of his most iconic silhouettes. By 1980, the jumpsuit had reached a zenith, with the American designer Geoffrey Beene calling it “the ballgown of the next century”. That called the top of the market for the jumpsuit as it quietly made its exit from the glamour of public life, only to re-emerge once again in the early 2000s in a more serious and sophisticated guise.
Roll on to 2024 and Favourbrook has picked up the jumpsuit baton, creating four summer styles notable for their elegance and femininity. Extremely easy to wear, flattering on the figure, and very versatile, our jumpsuits can be worn in a casual way or can also be accessorised to look more dressy. Whichever way you wear them, our jumpsuits are the perfect option for a sophisticated summer look.
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