Women suits
Suits were originally designed for men. However, as fashion in the urban apparel market evolves, women now have a version for such type of clothing.
Womens suits were first introduced in the 1660s. The suits initially consisted of a jacket or a tailored coat and were usually worn with skirt. During the early years, women wear suits for riding. However, with the sturdy and practical character of suits, women soon wear them not only for horseback, but also when travelling or doing daytime activities.
A modified version of women’s suit was introduced in the late 19th century. This version had two types: walking suits and riding suits. The riding suits became exclusive garments for horse riding while walking suits were worn for other activities. Both styles reflected on the current sleeve and skirt styles of women’s suits.
During the mid-20th century, the skirted suit became the most common daytime attire of women when reporting to work or attending formal or semi-formal occasions. During that time, dressmakers created suits with more feminine details and softer fabrics. Cocktail suits were also introduced and worn for semi-formal social gatherings.
Womens suits continued to evolve from 1970s to 1980s. At that time, skirted suit and tailored shirt were modified. In 1964, designer André Courrèges introduced the pantsuits, the type of women’s suits worn with trousers. Later on, pantsuits were gradually adapted as the formal business attire. Presently, any suit with conservative cut or dark colors such as black, brown, or gray are considered as business attire.