The History of Jumpsuits

The jumpsuit was originally created in 1919 as a functional garment for parachuters. In the 1930s, fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli began creating elegant jumpsuits for women, but they did not become a widespread fashion trend at the time. Sportier pieces designed by Vera Maxwell made their way onto the streets in the 1940s, but remained a novelty item, too. Jumpsuits were often worn by women during the Second World War; these were mostly utilitarian (think Rosie the Riveter). In the 1950s, some American fashion designers began experimenting with evening jumpsuits. However, jumpsuits didn’t hit their prime until the 1960s and 1970s. After this heyday in the late 20th century, jumpsuits fell out of favor until the early 2000s, when Nicolas Ghesquière sent an updated jumpsuit down a Balenciaga runway and reignited the trend. Since then, the jumpsuit has remained a key part of the fashion zeitgeist and is considered a modern wardrobe staple by many. Today, utilitarian, casual, and formal jumpsuits are sold and worn regularly.