Sometimes, a dress code is simply a matter of utility. But when we look back over the last one hundred years of women’s attire, we notice a trend towards modesty, gender roles, and femininity. Some would say that society sought to control women by dictating what they could and could not wear, not only at work but also at play. Whether you agree with this stance or not, we’re highlighting 12 dress code stipulations that women have had to navigate over the course of the last 75 years.
#1: Women Weren’t Allowed to Wear Pants in Many Workplaces (Until the 1970s)
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the majority of companies slackened their ban on pants for women by allowing the ever-popular pantsuit as tasteful work attire. Still, there was oftentimes the caveat that pantsuits still had to appear feminine, as the “feminine look” was considered the most professional look a woman could wear.
