Petticoat breeches
Encyclopedia
Petticoat breeches were voluminously wide, pleated pants, reminiscent of a skirt, worn by men in Western Europe during the 1650s and early 1660s. The very full loose breeches
were usually decorated with loops of ribbon
s on the waist and around the knee. They were so loose and wide that they became known as petticoat breeches. They give very much the impression of very baggy loose shorts
since they are not gathered at the knee.
They replaced Spanish breeches
during the 1650s as the most popular leg wear of most of Western Europe. By the early 1660s, rhinegraves
became very popular and soon replaced petticoat breeches.
Breeches
Breeches are an item of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles...
were usually decorated with loops of ribbon
Ribbon
A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily for binding and tying. Cloth ribbons, most commonly silk, are often used in connection with clothing, but are also applied for innumerable useful, ornamental and symbolic purposes...
s on the waist and around the knee. They were so loose and wide that they became known as petticoat breeches. They give very much the impression of very baggy loose shorts
Shorts
Shorts are a bifurcated garment worn by both men and women over their pelvic area, circling the waist, and covering the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to or even below the knee, but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened...
since they are not gathered at the knee.
They replaced Spanish breeches
Spanish breeches
Spanish breeches are stiff and close-fitting ungathered breeches. They were popular from 1600–1650. In the 1660s petticoat breeches surpassed them in popularity throughout most of Western Europe,...
during the 1650s as the most popular leg wear of most of Western Europe. By the early 1660s, rhinegraves
Rhinegraves
Rhinegraves are a form of breeches which were popular from the early 1660s until the mid 1670s in Western Europe. They are very full breeches gathered below the knee. Usually an overskirt was worn over them which was decorated with ribbon loops around the waist and around the knee...
became very popular and soon replaced petticoat breeches.
External links
- Pieter de Hooch Paintings Two pages of paintings of Dutch men in petticoat breeches by Pieter de Hooch.