From the Digital Commonwealth via the Digital Public Library of America. Click to enlarge
After World War Two, American women began to expand the places where they felt comfortable wearing pants. For the most part, grocery shopping was not on the fashion advisors’ list of proper places for such casual attire. However, this perhaps middle aged woman was photographed wearing pants at the Quincy Market in Boston in 1952. The photographer even got her to pose with the bird slung across her back to indicate the sporty nature of the turkey hunt. And take a look at her shoes—no old lady Oxfords for her.
From the Digital Commonwealth via the Digital Public Library of America. Click to enlarge
But lest you think all shoppers in Boston had gone casual, here is another shot at the same store. This woman dressed up for her turkey shopping with hat, coat, and gloves.
Perhaps the woman in the top photo was a store employee, posing for a joke shot with the local press photographer. Whatever the case, the places where women could be seen in pants was expanding.
love how smart both ladies look, the second is so well turned out for shopping for groceries, earings gloves and handbag…(that is some size of turkey the first lady carries!)