From its first appearance back in 1919, the jumpsuit was always destined to become a fashion icon. A symbol of female heroism and adventure, it naturally found its way from the professional aviators, racing drivers and sports women, to the catwalks of Paris, all under the influential and creative eye of Coco Chanel. We can attribute this categorical confusion to the jumpsuit’s relatively recent emergence. Last year Fashionista hailed the jumpsuit as “fashion’s new moneymaker,” an opportunity for brands to convince shoppers that a staple was missing from their wardrobes. Some e-commerce outlets followed up on the jumpsuit hype by making room on their menu bars for them. On Shopbop’s clothing drop-down menu, for example, jumpsuits/rompers are a category of their very own alongside skirts and jeans. Other sites, however, lump in jumpsuits with dresses: Nordstrom, for example, lists them as a “style” of dress, which is like saying that forks are a style of spoon.
Regardless of how they’re peddled, jumpsuits have a gestalt unto themselves. Whereas their sibling the romper gives off more of a “weekend, playful vibe,” as Mazur explained, jumpsuits can have a commanding, power-suit quality—an attitude that some companies are eager to embrace. “Jumpsuits are our thing,” confirmed a Madewell spokeswoman via email when I asked about the brand’s decision to dedicate precious Web pixels to an “overalls & jumpsuits” grouping. It’s a statement: Jumpsuits are here to stay.
Like dresses, jumpsuits come in many styles, so part of pulling off this look is all about finding the right jumpsuit for you. When shopping for a jumpsuit consider what your needs are. Are you after a casual jumpsuit to wear during the day or something more formal for an evening look? Do you need long sleeves to combat cold weather or will a strapless style help you beat the heat? Once you know your requirements, you can start focusing on the details. In general, styles that are fitted at the waist and then looser on the legs tend to be the most flattering. If you are tall, wide leg jumpsuits that finish just above the ground will be highly complimentary. If you are vertically challenged, you may want to opt for a slim, cropped style instead to avoid looking swamped in fabric.
A silky fabric gives this jumpsuit an evening spin and in chic black, it has that luxe-looking feel you’d expect from a designer piece. The key is to keep accessories simple – a sandal heel or sleek court and a delicate gold necklace or earrings is all you need.