How spandex pants came in Fashion? How it made women Health Conscious?

1. Spandex Pants and the New American
Woman

2. What is Second Skin?
• A stretch body-hugging dressing for the
modern women that allows for an ease of
movement and a freedom of corporeal
expression.
Gold Spandex Pants: Source - http://www.fashiontop.org/gold-spandex-
pants.html

3. What Fibers are used in Second Skin?
• Initially Latex was used.
• Before World War II synthetic fabric Spandex
was discovered. Gradually replaced former.
Source: Victoria Secret

4. Various types of Second Skin Garments
Photographs..
Shape wear
One-piece Dresses
Superhero costume
Sports
Wear
Pants
Lingerie

5. Journey of Second Skin
1. The New Stretch
Fibers: Second Skin
Beginnings
2. Glamorous Skins:
Frederick’s of
Hollywood and the
New Pant
3. The 60’s and 70’s:
Narrow Trousers,
New Woman
4. Fitness Spandex
Pants and Disco
Dressing
5. Spandex and
Sleaze: The
Sexualized Disco
Era

6. Second Skin Beginning
• Experiment on stretch material began.(Nylon,
Vinyon, Rubber threads, Lastex, Spandex)
• First underwear was developed, often made
of Latex. Girdles made of Latex was called
“Soft-Skin”
Girdle

7. The 40’s: Frederick’s of Hollywood and
the New Pant
• 1940 stretch fabric was synonym for Second
Skin.
• Evolutionary Frederick Mellinger created
various interesting lingerie patterns. And
exhibited them in his Catalogues (Frederick’s
of Hollywood) mailed to American women.
Source:
http://blogging.la/200
6/12/04/las-seventh-gift-
to-the-world-fredericks-
of-hollywood/

8. • Lingerie innovator Frederick created Satin
latex pant, evolution from his ‘Snip Hip’ panty
girdles to ‘Lady Long Johns’.

9. Catalogue Display of Frederick
Mellinger
Source: http://breakfastinfur.blogspot.in/2009_05_01_archive.html

10. The 60’s
•Andre Courreges was pioneer
to start pant suits for ladies.
•For first time Trousers began to
gain acceptance to be worn in
public
• By end of 60’s stretch fabrics
were gaining popularity in
Trousers.
Source: http://www.my-fashionbank.
com/articles/arti
cle25.html

11. The 70’s
Girogio Sant Angelo
stretch netting gown;
Source:
http://coutureallure.bl
ogspot.in/2011/02/my-sister-
stylist.html
Halston’s bias-cut
silk pyjama pant
•Girogio’s jumpsuits
and other stretch
garments was popular.
•Halston rarely used
spandex blend in his
garment. His pyjama,
pants, bodysuits
revealed a women’s
curve but never
extremely close fitting.

12. Fitness Spandex Pants and Disco
Dressing
• Rising popularity in fitness movement greatly
slenderized the ideal female figure by end of
1970’s and Disco culture introduced body
hugging looks for night.
• Leotards, legging became a part of the new
fashion dressing.
• Pants have glamorous shine, and lurex made
every curve of a women shine.

13. Leotards : Source-http://
www.elevedancewear.com/
Leggings: Source-http://
rachelslookbook.com/wp-content/
uploads/2013/10/Leggings
.jpg

14. The Sexualized Disco Era
•Confident women aware of
herself and her body, made her
entrance to world of fashion.
•Frederick’s signature spandex
disco pant was at height of
popularity.
Disco Pant: Source-http://www.discopants.net/spandex-disco-
pants
Disco Dress:
Source -
http://www.co
stumecraze.co
m/DSCO25.htm
l

15. Films Poster depicting Spandex fashion
in America