Fashionpedia: Jodhpurs

Jodhpur: Horse riding pant

Origin

The Jodhpurs originate from India and are a long ankle length pant stretching down to a snug fit from the calf to ankle. The trouser is a descendant of  the ancient Indian trouser called the Churidar ( this pant is tight around the calf and baggy at the hip and thigh), today still worn in traditional Jodhpury weddings.

The Jodhpurs was popularised in the late 19th Century during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The English Polo team were sporting these pants all custom made for them in India.

Purpose of the Jodhpurs

Special adaptations for riding include a pattern cut with the leg seams on the outside of the leg; a patch on the inside of the knee, sometimes of a hard-wearing material such as leather; and in some cases similar leather or leather-like panel on the seat that helps the rider stay still in the saddle. Classic jodhpurs are beige or white, but for working purposes come in a variety of colours.They are particularly well-suited for fast-growing children as shorter paddock boots cost less than tall boots to replace as a child's feet grow.

Jodhpurs as a fashion icon

Ladies began wearing jodhpurs during the 1920s, as they shifted away from riding horses sidesaddle. One of the first high-profile women to adopt the wearing of jodhpurs was Coco Chanel. She was inspired to copy the breeches as worn by a friend's groom.

As part of the 20th century trend of crossover fashions moving from sportswear to streetwear, various designers have incorporated equestrian styles into their clothing, including jodhpurs. Ralph Lauren is the most well-known of these designers, as equestrian styles and motifs are the basis of the Ralph Lauren Polo line. (Polo/Ralph Lauren presented "Man and the Horse", an exhibit of riding clothing and accoutrements from three centuries at the Metropolitan Museum of New York Costume Institute in 1984, curated by Diana Vreeland.)

Ralph Lauren Jodhpurs

Today, Jodhpurs are developed and redesigned for new markets. The dropped waist and baggy thigh is proving popular in Youth Fashion and emerging as a constant trend. Many denim manufacturers particularly from Japan are reinventing denim jeans in the styling of the Jodhpurs.

References

1. ^ ^a b c d Price, Steven D. (ed.) The Whole Horse Catalog: Revised and Updated New York:Fireside 1998 ISBN 0-684-83995-4 p. 215
2. ^ http://www.fashiontrendsindia.com
3. ^ http://www.rathore.com/JodhpurPants.htm
4. ^ Photographs exist of Sir Pratap Singh mounted on a horse, apparently in England, wearing his tight-calfed riding trousers with traditional Indian riding footwear rather than tall boots, dated 1917 & 1918. [1][2] Images, Hulton Archives: 7 March 1917, Sir Pratap Singh on Horseback, Editorial Image #3096959; & gettyimages.co.uk image # 104416011, 1 Jan 1918
5. ^ http://rajasthantravelguide.com/activities/polo.html
6. ^ Goodman, Wendy (26 November 1984). "New York Magazine". p. 72.
7. ^ Goodman, Wendy (26 November 1984). "New York Magazine". p. 67.
8. ^ Crabtree, Helen K. Saddle Seat Equitation: The Definitive Guide Revised Edition New York:Doubleday 1982 ISBN 0-385-17217-6 p. 92-100