trousers

Garment designed to fit the body from the waist to the bottom of the leg with separate tube-shaped sections for each leg. Straight ankle-length trousers were introduced in the 1800s, but were not considered acceptable attire for men until the late 19th century. Prior to this date men had worn stockings and breeches.

An attempt was made to introduce a version of trousers for women in the 19th century, but they did not become fashionable until the 1920s when Coco Chanel introduced loose, baggy trousers for leisure activities. Women working in factories and on the land during World War II wore trousers but they did not become generally popular for women until the 1960s. By the 1970s trousers had become an acceptable part of formal and casual wear. Examples of trouser designs are Oxford bags, pedal pushers, and flares.