The Tailor Made: the power suit of the Edwardian era

As women were getting more active towards the turn of the 20^thcentury, in society, in the workplace, and in the literal sense of the word, they needed their clothing to follow ‘suit’ (so to speak).

Enter the Tailor Made. 

1895 // The V&A Museum

A versatile outfit consisting of a skirt, a blouse - or shirtwaist - and a tailored jacket to match. Not only was this outfit far more practical than the flounces and frills that made up the rest of the Edwardian woman’s wardrobe, allowing for more movement with its skirt of suitable walking length and a jacket one could remove, but it also took on elements of a gentlemen’s suit from the time, and therefore letting women feel they had more of a presence in the workplace. It was also the obvious choice of outfit to purchase if you wanted to get the most out of your clothes. With the shirtwaist & skirt combination, and numerous styles being available in both, it meant the possibilities were endless and you could easily switch things up for a new look. It became the typical costume for travelling, and for popular activities of the day, too.

October & November, 1900

1892

1890-1900

1907 // National Cloak and Suit Company, New York City

Late 1890s

1905-1910

1912

1917

After first being considered plain and bland, and going against the era's ideals of femininity, it then started to rise in popularity amongst the middle & working classes in the 1890s, before becoming the ideal all-purpose outfit of the 'new' working woman towards the 1900s and 1910s, being particularly favoured by the Suffragettes. 

c. 1910 // Suffragettes

1912 // Women's Suffrage Headquarters, Ohio

1910 // Suffragettes armed with materials to chain themselves to railings