From a one-piece clothing item made of cotton or linen which would be worn over normal clothing as a protective garment, to the chic items following fashion trend of today, overalls have traversed a long path. Women have been wearing overalls for almost a century now, after first wearing them while working as factory help in England sometime during the First World War. Overalls were worn to protect oneself against the various toxic elements that they worked with. Soon overalls became the preferred garment of choice for mechanics, farmers, and laborers. Sometime in the 1930s overalls made their entry into the children's clothing market, since they were extremely comfortable and covered them up suitably against the vagaries of weather. It was in the hippie era, that overalls became a fashionable clothing item, transporting themselves from the cornfields to the catwalks.
Despite their popularity, overalls can be very tricky to wear correctly. Unlike jumpsuits and rompers, which are also one piece clothing, overalls can be quite masculine in their appearance. In order to wear them correctly it is important that you wear the right style, cut, and design of overall. Also important is what you wear underneath the overall and how you accessorize the same. In this article, we tell you how you can make overalls look like the most important fashion staple for a woman and carry the look off with panache.
How to Wear Overalls
From Jennifer Anniston to Jessica Simpson, and Rihanna, everyone who is anyone in the fashion world has rocked the overalls look. In fact the Spring/Summer 2010 collection from Ralph Lauren had overalls featured in a huge way. If you like to take a more simplistic and conservative approach to fashion, then it may be a good idea to stay away from the overalls trend. But if you are the adventurous type who cannot say no to a challenge, then an overall is that one fashion clothing that will incite your creative, fashionable self. There are plenty of ways that you can resort to in order to style an overall. From playing around with the tops that you wear underneath to mismatching the accessories, the overall can be completely transformed as per your wish.
It is important for you to be aware that there are many different types of overalls, from short and mid calf length overalls, to long overalls. It is up to you to choose a length that flatters you. Short overalls or shortalls, as they are known in the fashion world, are adorable and perfect for summer wear. The length of most shortalls generally extend till mid-thigh. You can opt to buy shortalls in any fabric like denim, cotton, or even linen. Wear these with bikini tops or tank-tops. While wearing short overalls, you need to ensure that these suit you and do not make you appear larger than your actual frame. Accessorize short overalls with anklets, flip-flops and bangles. You could also wear them with colorful wedges, provided your overall is a staid, neutral color.
If you own a pair of full length denim overalls, then any fashion column will tell you that there are million ways of wearing this look well. Do not try to take focus away from the clothing by over-accessorizing. Instead let them be the center of attention. If you are wearing them to the beach, wear it over your bathing suit. Alternatively you can wear it with a tank top or even a peasant blouse, for the back-to-the-dust bowl look. Roll up the cuffs of the denims, the way you would with your boyfriend's jeans, and complete the look with a pair of high-heeled women's shoes. You do not necessarily need to buy overalls that are very loose. Instead choose a pair that flatters your natural curves. It is important to ensure that your overalls do not hang loosely or make your behind look flat.
A great way of getting overalls for cheap and ensuring that you have the right fit, is to get one tailor-made for yourself. Alternatively you can haunt online shopping sites for great bargains and deals. The problem with the latter is that it can be difficult to choose the perfect sized option for you. Overalls may not be the first pick any woman may make at a clothing store, but they are definitely a women's clothing item that will find space in the wardrobe of a woman who is fashion forward.
