In the '80s people called pants that ended just below the knee "knickers." Before that, they were "peddle pushers." And I think there's at least one other name for them. "Knee highs," maybe? It seems every time they come back into fashion, they are called something else.
Maybe the term "breeches" is more accurate. However, that term was used 4 or 500 years before Victorian times, so I'm not really sure. Thanks to the Brits, I do consider "knickers" undergarments, and I do think the term has been used that way since Victorian times. Isn't Steampunk simply a style, not an accurate reflection of any true time period? As I understand it, it takes characteristics from a span of years, and throws in some extra flare. Since it doesn't really claim to be historically accurate*, call the trousers whatever you want! :) *Even the Steampunk fans argue this out. Some say it's Victorian clothes with technology from another year...some say it's just a literary genre. See this link: http://austinsirkin.tumblr.com/post/20317870381/what-is-steampunk-its-come-to-my-attention This online store calls all the bottoms/pants trousers but they do carry two that end below the knee. They call them...are you ready...KNICKERS! :) http://www.steampunkemporium.com/steam.php 'Bella On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 11:51 AM, Lynn Downward <[email protected]>wrote: > Knickers are short for knickerbockers, from some deep recess of my memory. > I know they weren't called knee-breeches during Victorian times (except > maybe by old ladies) but I can't verify they were called knickers. > > My theory is that the ladies' underwear term, knickers, came from the name > of the short trousers worn by men. > > Supposition on my part; my library is miles away and I can't remember > anything solid to back up my comments. > LynnD > > On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 11:38 AM, Julie <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I thought knickers referred to underwear. > > Julie > > > > > > > Last Sunday, a friend came to a Steampunk St. Patty's Day party > > > sporting knickers. I am in the habit of calling them knee-breeches from > > my > > > Rev > > > War days. > > > Is knickers the correct term for men's knee breeches in > Victorian > > > times? > > > Henry Osier > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > h-costume mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
