Los Angeles-based Movimento is selling an all-in-one jacket, complete with sleeveless gloves, two scarves and a hood. Spotting this design got us thinking about how far fashion has come in terms of adapting to the modern woman’s needs.
Much of the twentieth century was focused on altering women’s clothing to boost desirability; hems were trimmed and cinched according to the current trends, and for the woman truly in style, fashion was all about looking good.
While that certainly remains the case (it should be noted the Movimento jacket is sexy as hell), we started to see a shift in the ultilitarian aspect of clothing when women started—literally—wearing the pants (and, no, jeggings are not included in this category). While 1940-1960 was centered around “rationed fashion” due to limited materials and funding, the Sixties brought about a true revolution in every sense—one that most definitely did not lack in the garment department.
The sartorial revolution continued into the Eighties with “power suits,” a hallmark of a generation—the name itself is a perfect description of the look: transferring traditionally masculine cuts and adjusting them to fit the feminine form was a totally new and bold approach to fashion—one that the public lapped up eagerly.
More importantly, men’s clothing, which has always included an element of usability, is built by default to provide space for free movement—a markedly absent consideration when looking back on women’s fashion history. Seeing women wearing outfits that both physically and metaphorically liberated them was powerful on many levels, and there's no question that jeans are preferable to a girdle (in most situations that is, the girdle has generated significant buzz of its own).
In the case of Movimento, the company focuses its entire line on "adaptable clothing," most of which can be worn at the gym or the club. Ultra-comfy vegan leather leggings with sexy cutouts are an example that is realistically multi-functional: stretch out some yoga, switch your top and you’re ready for an evening out.
A jam-packed lifestyle is standard for the modern American woman—we're excited to see designers working to create clothing that fits all that we are.
Image: Movimento
