This Fall, the handbag department is touting a lineup of rocker chic-inspired collections that feature oversized studs, gleaming silver and gold buttons, and chain handles galore. If you've always had a little bit of a rocker-girl style in you, this is the season to show it off! Some of the leading handbags of the season are designed with an edgy look with oversized hardware and darker colors for that tough-girl look you crave. From chain-handled shoulder bags to studded hobos, here are some of the leading looks in handbags for Fall:

1. Gunmetal hobos and satchels. While black is still a top pick for handbags this season, gunmetal silver and pewter shades reign the runways this year and are a great match for your rocker look. Look for charcoal, dark silver and pewter handbags and clutches that will accent any outfit with a fresh and sassy look.

2. Studs galore. From the miniature clutch to the oversized hobo, studs are cropping up on every piece of arm candy you can find. Look for matte silver and gleaming gold studs that look like they've been pulled right off a motorcycle jacket.

3. Chain handle shoulder bags. If you're looking for a versatile bag to last you through the season, stick with the classic shoulder bag embellished with chain handle accents. Chain handles are a top trend in handbags this Fall, and your best bet is the oversized chain style that becomes the focal point of the bag. Not only are these handles super-sturdy (yes, you can tote your heels, wallet and a few books without worrying about breakage), but they will give you that edgy, rocker-inspired look you crave.

4. Coil accents. Coils, oversized metal hardware and rings are some of the embellishments you'll find on the tough-girl bags this season. Look for crossbody bags and satchels accentuated with these details for a fresh and fun look.

5. Extra zippers. Zippers serve a dual purpose on hobos and satchels this season, and you'll find a number of bags with lines of zippers as part of the design. They're just another way to show off your rocker-chic look for the season.

One of the secrets of expanding a small wardrobe is to make sure that each piece you buy can be worn with something you already have. Let's look at Zappos.com for three easy pieces, and then think about how you can wear each one with something already in your closet.

Everyone needs a good pair of trousers, and these "Jackie" wide leg pants from Liz Claiborne do the trick. They're denim with a classic cut and style. The flat waistband sits at the natural waist, and the hems of those wide legs are cuffed. These are classic pants you can dress up or down, and wear with almost anything.

The second piece of this outfit is this stylish scoop-line top from MICHAEL at Michael Kors. It has a flowing design to make it comfortable, and that scoop neckline is dressed up with little round studs. Its vivid red coloring is the perfect complement to the dark pants.

Finally, layer the top with another Liz Claiborne piece; this stretch denim peacoat is all about style, with a double breasted three-button front, pointed collar, and welt pockets. The cuffs have a button accent, and the jacket has a back vent for ease of movement.

Put the pieces together, and you've got a great outfit. But look at them separately and see what else they can do. The pants can dress down with a colorful tee, or dress up a bit with a long-sleeved shirt (think Tommy Bahama or BCBGirls) left out or tucked in. You can top the shirt with a cardigan when cooler temperatures arrive.

The peacoat, in navy denim, is a neutral that can top almost anything in your closet. If you have a sheath dress (look at the ones from Hype for ideas), top it with the jacket before you put it away for fall, and keep wearing the summer dress through the next season. Finally, the Michael Kors top would be perfect over white pants or capris for a bright summer look.

Now you've got three easy pieces and four stylish looks. Does life get any better?

Women know all about the little black dress and probably have a collection of them in their closet. But what about the red dress? Red dresses have strong connotations of power and sexuality. The red dress has evolved from a wild exclamation to a more modest but still powerful fashion statement in movies and on TV.

Fictional Ladies in Red
From fictional images of the innocent Little Red Riding Hood to the cute and sexy cartoon Betty Boop, it's hard not to run through a pop culture flipbook of red dresses in your mind. Most recently Number Six on Battlestar Gallactica, as played by Tricia Helfer is the most sultry woman in red.

Before Number Six, Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura on the original Star Trek wore a signature red dress uniform. The dress was short, and paired with black boots. The dress had long sleeves and a black collar, under the collar bone. Lt. Uhura was a strong female character on the show, allowed to be both smart and have sex appeal.

In 1938, Bette Davis plays a rebellious woman who throws conventionality to the wind and wears a red dress to a society dance, causing a scandal, in Jezebel.

In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Cate Blanchett wears an elegant red dress, in a Retro 1940s style. While the dress is modest, it's used to represent the passion between Brad Pitt's and Cate Blanchett's characters. The symbolism works because of the moviegoers' collective association, built on all previous incarnations of the red dress on film. The dress represents sexuality, power and passion.

Red Dresses Now
The First Lady wears subdued red suits modestly tailored, making red and the red dress an acceptable choice for all women. Formal red dresses have raised the bustline and dropped the hemline, upgrading red to a positive choice even for modest party goers. Adding a patch of pattern to a red dress adds an element of sweetness to a red dress.

Streamlined Sweaters, Not Clunky
Forget last year's bulky sweaters with larger-than-life triangle collars and buttons worthy of an elementary school bulletin board. Opt instead for a sleek and streamlined cardigan. Rather than a torso shortening collar, this fall's cardigan lengthens you with long columnar draping in the front, ideal for pairing with your favorite leggings.

Monochromatic, Not Complementary
Make your mornings easier and pick out a monochromatic outfit one or two days this week. Dress from head to toe in one hue, from earrings to shoes, and revel in the accolades and approving nods. The color does not have to be a citron or red, but try something other than black.

Ethnic Prints not Factory Shapes
Get rooted with ethnic prints in your wardrobe. Replace your favorite plaid with prints resembling woven fabric.

Over the Knee Not Under
If you were floored by the high knee-grazing boots of seasons past, you will love the new over-the-knee boots. Pull off the look with a pair of warm velvet over-the-knee stockings, or embrace the look with thigh high boots. The key to wearing over-the-knee boots gracefully and with style is choose a pair of flat, neutral colored boots. It's okay to wear with a short skirt or dress, but arms and decolletage should be covered up. Let the attention fall to the boots and your legs.

Squares over Rectangles
Going back to elementary school for a moment, opt for square-shaped, compact handbags over rectangular ones.

Dark Lenses, Not Rose Colored Glasses
You can still look at the world through rose-colored glasses, but only proverbially. For hip eye wear, choose the sunglasses with strong frames, worn by movie fashion icons from Audrey Hepburn in the 1960s to Tom Cruise in the 1980s. Don't worry, though, you can still match them to your outfit thanks to Wayfarer's new colored frames.

Belted Coats not Loose Coats
Your transitional season coat should be belted, buttoned and rest mid-thigh, perfect for wearing with your favorite skirt or leggings and to protect you from cool Autumn breezes.

Ancient Egyptian and Greek scriptures have depicted women in water scenes wearing short cotton skirts that were waisted below the bust and held up by two straps that mark the earliest versions of the modern monokini. However, European designer, Rudi Gernreich, holds the title for designing the first monokini in 1964. A cross between a one-piece swimsuit and a two-piece, the design consisted of a bikini bottom with straps that ran over the shoulders. He also is responsible for naming the garment and was recorded in the English language that same year. The term monokini, refers to a bikini bottom held in place by two straps which, at least partially, cover the breasts. His vision to create a garment with minimal construction and detailing to maintain focus on the body itself received mixed reviews during the conservative times. In the face of the critics, the monokini was a highly purchased item for shoppers that summer, selling over $3,000 in the suits. Although not very successful in the US, it was a great hit in Europe by the early 1970's.

After its first season, the monokini grew quickly out of style, nonetheless, the exposing suit began a new era in swimsuit design. Designers soon began experimenting with strategic cutouts and mesh coverage in swimwear design. For the Sports Illustrated cover in 2000, Laetitia Casta was photographed in a vintage 1967 Gernreich monokini, reviving interest in the swimsuit. Today, the monokini is the hottest summer trend in swimsuit since its debut. Popular designs are cut-out one-piece swimsuits with designers using fabric, mesh, chain, and straps to bond the top and bottom sections together, like Dolce & Gabbana's Monokini with Metal Ring & Gold Lurex Piping. Celebrities including Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria Parker, have been photographed in stylish monokini designs, only growing the popularity of this up to the moment trend.

Thomas Burberry, founder and original designer for the British line, Burberry, can be credited for the development of the trench coat. He first designed the trench coat as a raincoat for an army officer during the United Kingdom War Office in 1901. It then became an optional coat to the heavy serge greatcoats worn by the British Army.The coat then had a basic uniform design. It was usually ten buttons long and double-breasted, typically in khaki or black. The coat was also developed with intricate details such as cuff straps, shoulder straps and most notable for its wrapped belt. Fabric used for the trench was ideal for protection from the cold, snow and rain.

Following World War II, the trench became a garment of business-like respectability and worn by popular fictional characters on the big screen such as Dick Tracy, Rick Blane from Casablanca, Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany's, and most recently on Keanu Reeves in the box office hit, The Matrix.

Later in the 1960's, the trench coat became the alternative to the fishtail parka or crombie, and was seen as a highly fashionable overcoat. The trench has also been portrayed as a provocative garment worn by women in an effort to conceal their bare bodies.

Since the days of war, the trench has become a staple piece of a fashionable wardrobe. It is especially a popular item during the winter for both men and women alike. Looks for the trench coat has transcended into short and long. Modern changes to the look also include pleated or voluminous skirts, short, wide sleeves, and a variation in fabrics. Its silhouette has also changed to be more tailored and fitted, and although styles and colors change each season, the look is a timeless classic.

The Caftan, or Kaftan, was originally a men's garment originating in 14th century Persia. The caftan, which can be worn as a shirt or dress, but undoubted slipped over the head, is designed with elbow length or long sleeves, and is ankle length. Original forms of the caftan were made in simple designs and fabrics, such as silk or cotton, but were airy and lightweight. They were worn in numerous ways, but at the time, was usually adorned with a belt or sash around the waist in the Eastern Mediterranean.

During the Ottoman Empire, caftans were a popular piece of attire for Sultans that were then elaborated in design by adding embellished embroidery and prints. Often given as precious gifts to significant generals during religious festivals, the caftan was treated as a precious piece of clothing. The color, patterns, ribbons, and patterns on the caftan represented the rank of the person in hierarchical order.

As times changed, the caftan continued to vary. In the 14th century, designs were made using subdued colors and large patterns. By the second half of the 17th century, vertical stripes were introduced to the garment as well as various embroideries integrated into the precious fabrics used. By the end of the 1960's, when the hippie era began to develop, caftans were fashionable for their flowing look and were printed with bright swirl patterns of peace signs and paisley prints. The caftan then became a popular unisex garment worn over bell bottom jeans and topped with a floppy felt hat.

Today, the caftan is predominantly worn by women in the US, usually unbelted and is offered in a variety of prints, dyes and detailed embellishments. Most caftans are made as one size fits all garments, and designed still in silk and in new variations of cottons and newer fabrics. Because of its lightweight feel yet elegant look, it is still worn today as a dress-style or as a swimsuit cover up offering the perfect versatility for leaving the beach and entering a night out in the city. Men today still wear kaftans as a traditional piece of clothing, while Men in India and Pakistan wear them over lounge pants and other variations can be found in Middle Eastern and African countries.

Sources: www.21stcenturyvillage.com, www.wisegeek.com

A pair of pumps can turn any outfit from drab to fab. We wear them to work and to go out on the town. The word pump is often used to describe a lot of different types of shoes. Pumps have a medium to high heel and cover the back of the foot and the toes, without a strap. Visible parts of the foot include part of the arch, the top of the foot, and a bit of toe cleavage.

Early Heels: Chopines
High heels, some as high as 23 inches were in fashion for upper class women during the Renaissance. These shoes were custom-made and had intricate lacing. In contrast, pumps combined a heel and style with easy slip-on convenience.

Pompes and the Louis Heel
The origin of the word pump in reference to shoes comes from strapless and button-less shoes, "pompes" worn by men and servants in the 1500's. The pump was later elevated to royal status. Pumps with a low and curved heel could be found in the French royal courts of the Louis XIV.

The curved heel is one which comes in and out of style on a pair of pumps, and is called the Louis heel. This particular pump looks strikingly similar to the early pumps of the 1700s. Both styles are round and curvy, with subtle patterning.

In the 1800's more of the top of the foot was shown in silk court shoes. The heel was relatively low, and the Louis heel remained popular in the 1800's.

Modern Pumps
The modern pump, with the narrow heel at the bottom, that we see today first came into fashion in the 1950's.

Pumps were a formal footwear of choice for ladies, including fashion icon Jackie O. The pump, particularly in a plummy pink high heel is still popular, in no small part because of the Sex and the City TV and movie franchise.

Sources
Head Over Heal History, http://www.headoverheelshistory.com/pumps.html
Pumps, http://shoes.lovetoknow.com/Pumps

Fashion may be trying to play a joke on us. The punch line is the jumpsuit. The jumpsuit induces visceral reactions, and nobody is without an opinion. For some, it's a sexy outfit for assertive women like Pam Grier, for others it's too utilitarian. One reason for our ambiguous feelings towards the jumpsuit can be traced back to 1970s movies and TV shows and its many depictions of science fiction.

Sexy or Utilitarian?
Jaclyn Smith made jumpsuits sexy by being one of the original characters in Charlie's Angels in the 1970s. The 1970s also brought us Pinky Tuskadero on Happy Days, who was sultry in her silver jumpsuit, which she wore to ride her motorcycle.

The jumpsuit took on a more menacing force when it was worn by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. The masculine jumpsuit was reminiscent of Top Gun flight suits and bright orange prison suits. Previously the jumpsuit had comedic appeal, when it worn as part of the Ghostbusters uniform in 1984.

The jumpsuit has oft been cast as a futuristic outfit, and can also be seen in This Island Earth (1955), Buck Rogers In The Twenty-Fifth Century (1979-1981), Fantastic Voyage (1966), Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine and Aeon Flux (2005).

The future may be here already, since jumpsuits have found their way back to TV. The Dharma jumpsuits on Lost have become nearly iconic for millions of fans, and any Lost party or Halloween party would be incomplete without the tan work jumpsuit and Dharma logo.

At the same time the jumpsuit is working on Lost, it's being worn on MTV's The Hills, including the Helmut Lang twill jumpsuit worn by one Audrina. These two current examples show our ambiguous relationship with the jumpsuit: is it sexy or utilitarian, and can it ever fall somewhere in between?

Casual and Sexy
The casual and sexy jumpsuit, with bandeau or tube top and no straps is today's answer to the jumpsuit.

Capri pants are many things all at once: chic, sexy, fashionable and comfortable. The basic Capri style, attributed to Sonja de Lennart has not changed much, but how and where we wear our Capris has, thanks to Audrey Hepburn, Mary Tyler Moore, Stockard Channing and Uma Thurman.

European fashion designer Sonja de Lennart debuted her Capri Collection in 1945, and it included skirts, pants and blouses. Three years later she modified the Capri pants to make them tighter, and in turn sexier. She shortened the pants to the familiar three-quarter length, just below the knee that is common today. The original version even had the small slit up the outside of the material.

Fashion and film icon Audrey Hepburn breezed around in a pair of Capri pants with ballet flats in the 1954 movie Sabrina. More than five decades later, Capris paired with ballerina flats still work. The style was popular as resort wear in the 1950s, although the pants continued to evoke sex appeal on screen.

American women traded in their skirts for Capris in the mid-1960s thanks in no small part to Mary Tyler Moore. As Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Moore was given credit by Time Magazine for having made Capri pants "the biggest trend in U.S. casual attire," while at the same time the sponsors of the TV show reported that American women were not thrilled by the site of Mary Tyler Moore in the skin-tight pants.

Capris were the pants of choice for top Pink Lady Rizzo in 1978's Grease starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. Stockard Channing's signature look included her Pink Ladies coat with black Capri pants.

The Capri pants also caused a sensation when Uma Thurman wore them in the dark Quentin Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction, in 1994.

Today's Capri pants can be worn in the office, on holiday or for exercise. This style of pants is ideal for showing off the latest sandals, flats or wedged shoes of your collection.

Sources

Cotton, Inc., http://www.cottoninc.com
Sonja de Lennart, http://www.sonjadelennart.com/gallery.html
Laura Petrie's Capri Pants, http://www.tvacres.com/clothing_pants_laurapetrie.htm

Nothing says summer like the "b" word. Beach? Bathing suit? No, bikini! It feels modern, but the bikini first hit the scene in the 4th Century AD. Much like a photo from a beach-side volleyball tournament, the mosaic shows active women showing off their curves, while wearing high cut bottoms, and torsolettes, or strapless bandeaus. More modest bathing suits pushed the bikini out of view for centuries, only to bust back on the scene as the swimsuit of choice for women for the past five decades.

Flashback to the Victorian era, when women who ventured to the beach did everything they could to stay covered while entering the surf. Women even used bathing huts or bathing machines which transported them directly to the water, minimizing the time they would be seen in their swim clothes.

Thanks in part to Australian swimmer, Annette Kellerman, a more form-fitting one-piece maillot became acceptable swimwear on the eve of the Roaring '20s. No longer were women's curves washed away by bulky fabrics. The bathing suit went sleeveless and more and more thigh was being shown. In the 1930s, a feminine silhouette brought the hemline of swimwear up high on the thigh. The bathing suits were kept feminine looking, with a skirt bottom. This more modest look is still in vogue.

The modern day bikini we all know and love was invented by Louis Reard in 1946. Two-piece bathing suits hit the beach in the 1940s, thanks to Hollywood starlets. These precursors to the modern-day bikini combined halter tops and bottoms which were higher than the bellybutton.

As the decades progressed, the bikini shrunk. By the 1960s, the "Itsy Bitsy, Teenie Weenie, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" had arrived. By the mid-1960s, thanks in no small part to Ursula Andress and her white bikini, the bikini was a must for the beach. The 1970s, brought us string bikinis, made popular by Jaclyn Smith on Charlie's Angels, and model Cheryl Tiegs.

Greek is chic. The Grecian dress, with its signature draped fabric and one-shouldered neckline, has been revived as a classic style for women. With the First Lady's choice of a one-shouldered dress for the inauguration ball, the trend of Grecian-inspired fashion continues to gain steam, making it a hot fashion choice for women.

Ancient Greece
In Ancient Greece tunics were made from basic and large pieces of cloth, typically belted or drawn in at the waist or above. Much of their style incorporated borders and layers to create a draped effect.

Historic Moments
Between 1800 and 1815 there was a Greek revival in the United States, which included Grecian-style gowns for American women. The First Lady wowed the U.S. with her one-shouldered number and set the tone for prom dresses, formal dresses and casual dresses for the year. Before Michelle Obama made the one-shouldered look accessible to all women, it was worn by Kate Moss in 2007.

Grecian Dress
The Grecian dress is typically made with draped fabric. It sometimes incorporates the one-shouldered look. The shoulder strap may be draped over the upper arm or rest firmly on the shoulder, drawing attention to the bare shoulder and to the neck. The Grecian dress is a versatile style which can be found in long, elegant dresses, or shorter frocks. Pair any Grecian dress or Grecian top and shorts, or skirt with a pair of Greek-inspired sandals for a classic and fashionable look.

Going Greek: Casual Style
Elements of the Grecian dress are also found in tops. Tops may combine the illusion of a one-shouldered look with some support on the other shoulder, as seen in the Ella Moss Goa One Shoulder Top. One-shouldered tops with ruffles, rather than drapery owe their asymmetry to the Grecian dress. Heavy drapery and Greek influence can also be seen on party dresses. Even swim wear has gone Greek. Today's bikinis and tanks sport one strap not two, a style inspired by the Grecian dress.

Sources:
Ancient Greece, http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page
Clothing in Ancient Greece, http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Clothing
Retro Fashion History, http://retro-fashion-history.com/html/1965_retro_fashion_history.html

The pencil skirt first emerged as a style with a name after World War II. With the end of cloth rationing, clothes could once again be luxurious and used fabric in ways more inventive than utilitarian military styling. This led both to the full, crinoline skirts of the 1950s, but also to longer, sleek styles that echoed pre-World War I silhouettes with their full busts and corseted waists. These styles also emphasized hips and were made even more dramatic by a fishtail flare around the ankles.

By the end of WWII, a more casual world filled with more active women only supported the fishtail detail for evening or formal occasions, but the long narrow skirt, now dubbed a pencil skirt, was ready to make a comeback. These tight skirts in their most extreme form were essentially hobble skirts -- difficult to walk in and almost impossible to sit down in. The look was emphasized by a corseted waist, emphasized by how this fashion of the times was photographed with the model standing with one foot behind the other and angling their hips forward to make the skirt look even narrower than it was.

As the sixties approached, skirts began to change again with hemlines going up and structure and tightness going down. These more freely moving skirts became the dominant fashion statement in the 1970s, but the pencil skirt was far from dead.

The pencil skirt reemerged as a fashion item in the 1980s as a curvier look became fashionable for women again, and highly structure clothes appealed as women became more focused on taking leadership positions in the workplace. The pencil skirt of the 1980s, though, was slightly more practical, often being styled with buttons or even a zipper up the back to allow the woman to adjust the skirt to make it easier to move in.

While the 1990s saw a retreat from structured clothing with retro-70s styles and the emergence of the grunge look, structured clothes returned with the turn of the millennium -- a trend inspired both by an interest in the fashion of the first half of the 20th century and the fact that war-time fashions historically tend to be structured. Today's pencil skirts, often paired with a "secretary blouse" (tight waist, short puffed sleeves and loose but suggestive bust line) are shorter than the hobbling pencil skirts of the 1950s, usually coming in at about knee length, but their strong silhouette continues to be appealing.

Whether you love it or loathe it, the bikini is a popular beach fashion staple. The basic body covering is apparent throughout history. A fourth century mosaic displayed at the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily features women wearing simple two-piece outfits similar to today's bikinis. However, modern bikinis did not hit the commercial fashion scene until 1946.

Interestingly, two French designers, Jacques Heim and Louis Reard both revealed the risqué swimsuit concept within months of one another. Jacques Heim unveiled his creation, dubbed the Atome, first, but the revealing garment failed to make a splash. Louis Reard's version stole the spotlight thanks to his creativity and marketing shrewdness. Just days before the debut of his creation, the United States military tested an atomic device near the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Louis Reard used the newsworthy event to his advantage and called his two-piece swimsuit the bikini.

The midriff-baring, high cut bikini was so controversial that even professional models refused to don it on the runway. Reard resourcefully recruited an exotic dancer to model the bikini instead. His fashion forward swimsuit was scandalous in the United States, condemned by decency groups and banned on some beaches.

The bikini finally gained broader appeal and approval in France during the late 1950s. Photographs featured Brigitte Bardot wearing a bikini in the French Riviera on many occasions. Bardot also famously wore a bikini in the 1956 French film And God Created Woman.

The pop culture fashion trend gained momentum in America thanks to *Brian Hyland*'s hit song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" and the popular beach themed movies of the 1960s. Hollywood continued to bolster the bikini's appeal with memorable scenes in movies like 1962's Dr. No. In the film, actress Ursula Andress rises from the ocean wearing a white bikini with a wide belt securing a large knife at her waist. Halle Berry recreated the classic scene in the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day.

Designers continue to update the bikini with sexier styles and more conservative versions that provide additional coverage. With so many choices, the bikini is a great way to express a unique sense of style.

While we think of women's suits as a product of women entering into the workplace, it's worth remembering that women's suit actually have a much earlier origin.

The first women's suits were outfits for horseback riding and appeared in the mid 17th century. Additionally, women's suits modeled on the designs of men's military wear (but featuring a skirt instead of trousers) were also popular for fancy dress parties and other festive, but not necessarily formal, social occasions at the time.

These suits often featured floor-length skirts that could be buttoned up or draped to make walking and riding easier while also maintaining a woman's modesty.

The suit was not just worn for riding, but also for traveling and any other activity that might be considered challenging. While these suits were significantly more ornate than today's suits for women, they were distinguished by their use of durable fabrics and limited (for the time) trim in an effort to make them more practical than other women's clothes of the era.

Suits took their next step in evolution in the mid-19th century, as practical feminine attire for women became important during and after the American Civil War. By the end of the 19th century, some women had started working in offices, and suits for them, as well as the walking suit for ladies of leisure, became prevalent.

In the 20th century, the suit became fashionable for ladies both in and out of the office. With suits being the dominant look for women in the 1950s and 1960s.

Pants as a part of women's suits did not exist until the 1960s, and even then these suits were considered more casual than skirted suits. It took two decades for such pants suits to gain wide acceptance as office attire.

Today, thanks to the business casual movement of the 1990s, suits are less a stable of both men's and women's wardrobes in most professions. However, a return to structured tailoring and an interest in retro looks has helped revive the suit for women as a fashion statement, if not a practical one.