Arts and Sciences' Einav Rabinovitch-Fox explains history of ...

How bloomers went from a 1800s feminist statement to a 2024 summer staple

ELLE: Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, lecturer of history at the College of Arts and Sciences, explained how bloomers emerged in the United States around 1850 as a practical remedy for women’s health and comfort—and have recently made a comeback. “Bloomers were first used as a utilitarian solution that made movement easier for women who worked in communities where they had to do more agricultural work,” she said. “Originally, they were a loose-fitting suit worn under a skirt, designed to alleviate the discomfort women experienced in their restrictive corsets and dresses.”