Announcing Our Newest Lesson: Drafting a Jumpsuit

- - Fashion School, New Lessons, Pattern Making


image of new lesson: Drafting a JumpsuitUniversity of Fashion’s newest lesson, Drafting a Jumpsuit (Image credit: UniversityofFashion.com)

Our newest lesson, Drafting a Jumpsuit, will teach you how to draft a jumpsuit using the torso and pant slopers that you drafted in our pattern making lessons, Convert Bodice Sloper to Torso Sloper  and the pant sloper that you drafted in our lesson Basic Pant Sloper. Once you have drafted this jumpsuit, it will become the foundation for creating numerous style and design variations.

Image of lesson: Drafting a JumpsuitClick to view a preview of our newest lesson: Drafting a Jumpsuit (Image credit: UniversityofFashion.com)

Jumpsuit History

image of Rosie the Riveter jumpsuitThe iconic “Rosie the Riveter” image popularized the jumpsuit as a symbol of women’s contribution to the war effort (Images credit: Rosie the Riveter

The jumpsuit’s journey in women’s fashion is a fascinating tale of functionality evolving into style. Originally designed in 1919 for parachutists, the jumpsuit quickly found its way into various practical applications. The first high-fashion jumpsuit for women was created by Elsa Schiaparelli in the late 1930s, inspired by the impending war. She designed a green silk jumpsuit with large front pockets, marking the garment’s entry into the world of haute couture. During World War II, jumpsuits gained prominence as women’s workwear. As men went to war, women took up jobs in factories and other traditionally male-dominated sectors, adopting jumpsuits for their practicality. They became part of the iconic  “Rosie the Riveter” uniform, a testament to their utility and resilience.

images of 1960s jumpsuitsJumpsuits circa 1960s (Image credit: ellozze.com)

During the 60s &  70s the jumpsuit transformed from workwear into a fashion statement that signified empowerment and emancipation. Printed jumpsuits became popular for casual daywear and were very popular in the disco scene.assorted evening wear jumpsuitsJumpsuits become glamorous evening attire at Kayannou, LightInTheBox, Alice + Olivia and New York Dress.

In fact, jumpsuits became so popular in the 1980s that the American designer Geoffrey Beene declared them the “evening dress” of the next century. Based on a recent Google search, Mr Beene was 100% right!

 

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Headshot of Francesca Sterlacci

Francesca Sterlacci

Francesca Sterlacci is the CEO of University of Fashion (UoF) which she founded in 2008 as the first on-demand online fashion video library bringing the art and craft of fashion design and business to schools, libraries, organizations and the general public. As owner of her eponymous label for ten years, her collection sold in fine stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Barneys and Nordstrom. As a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology for 11 years, she became Chair of the Fashion Design Department where she initiated the complete revision of their AAS and BFA degree programs, as well as wrote three certificate programs: Leather Fashion Design, Outerwear and Haute Couture. Francesca has also taught graduate level fashion design at the Academy of Art University San Francisco for six years, both on site and online. Her publishing accomplishments include: Leather Apparel Design, the Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry (First and Second Editions), the A-Z of the Fashion Industry, Leather Fashion Design and a 3-volume beginner series on Draping, Pattern Making and Sewing designed to complement the UoF lessons. She has also made literary contributions to both the Encyclopedia of Clothing & Fashion and You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Women. Francesca holds an AAS, BA and an MSEd (master’s degree in higher education).