Jodhpurs and Breeches

Posted by Joyce Bloemker on January 9, 2022

I researched the history of jodhpur pants for a school project and I learned a lot. I never knew jodhpurs were so interesting. 

First off though, was I the only one who assumed jodhpurs and breeches were different words for the same pants? I really hope not. They are actually different, but let me explain jodhpurs a bit more first.

They were invented in India in 1890 by Sir Pratap Singh. He loved playing polo (which is something else that came from India) but he didn't like the pants they wore. He based his new design off the churidar pant which are baggy from hip to ankle, but he made his pants fitted along the calf and added extra fabric to reinforce the inner leg. The baggy thighs allowed for free movement of the rider before stretch fabrics were invented. Sir Pratap Singh was regent of a city called Jodhpur and that is how they got their name. 

Sir Pratap Singh and his polo team joined Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1897. England started wearing jodhpurs after seeing the Jodhpur polo team wearing them, and soon all of Europe adopted them, particularly for their cavalry units. 

As the cavalry was replaced with motor vehicles, the pants stayed around for motorcyclists and high-ranking officers. This made them a symbol of authority, so Hollywood directors started wearing them too. 

They became quite a fashion craze for a while for men and women for many different aspects of life. Coco Chanel was the first notable woman to be seen wearing jodhpurs. They became popular with pilots and Amelia Earhart is one of the biggest female figures to be wearing the pants. 

Jodhpurs have been used in high fashion to show high status because of their high class background. They are also considered formal wear for men in India. 

There is also a new style of jodhpurs called Kentucky jodhpurs. I don't understand why they are called jodhpurs when they have the opposite silhouette to traditional jodhpurs. Kentucky jodhpurs are what young riders tend to wear. They are made of stretch fabric and are fitted until the ankle where they flare out to fit overtop of a short boot. Breeches on the other hand are fitted all the way down so they can easily be worn inside of tall boots. 

I never knew there was so much to learn about a pair of pants, and I certainly didn't realize there was an actual difference in jodhpurs and breeches. If only I knew this when I was showing at fifteen years ago! 

Did you know any of this?

To learn more about jodhpurs, check out Gentleman Gazette's article "Jodhpurs Guide - History & Style of the Infamous Indian Pants Explained."

To learn more about breeches, check out R&R Country's article, "What's the Difference Between Breeches and Jodhpurs."

References

All About Jodhpuri Breeches. (2018, December 21). Rajanyas. Retrieved November 15, 2021 from https://rajanyas.com/blogs/jodhpuri/all-about-jodhpuri-breeches

Barker, L. (2019, January 10). What's The Difference Between Breeches And Jodhpurs. R & R Country. https://randrcountry.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-difference-between-breeches-and-jodhpurs

Breeches -- History of Equestrian Pants. (2019, October 18). Equishop. https://www.equishop.com/en/blog/breeches-history-of-equestrian-pants-n179

Cave, A. (n.d.). Difference Between Breeches & Jodhpurs. Gentleman Gazette. https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/jodhpurs-guide-pants-history-style-where-to-buy/

Cumming, V., Cunnington, C., & Cunnington, P. (2010). Jodhpurs. In The Dictionary of Fashion History (p. 113). Oxford: Berg Publishers. Retrieved November 07 2021, from https://www-bloomsburyfashioncentral-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/products/berg-fashion-library/dictionary/the-dictionary-of-fashion-history/jodhpurs

Jodhpuri Breeches (Riding Pants). (n.d.). Raghavendra Rathore. https://www.rathore.com/collections/breeches

Mens Breeches. (n.d.) Paridhanin. https://www.paridhan.co.in/collections/product/7/28/0/riding-apparels/baggy-breeches-jodhpur-style-pants

Nanjappa, V. (2013, August 5). Jodhpurs Guide - History & Style of the Infamous Indian Pants Explained. Gentleman Gazette. https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/jodhpurs-guide-pants-history-style-where-to-buy/

Polo Before the Modern Polo Pants. (2017, November 13). LA Polo. https://www.lapolo.in/blog/before-modern-polo-pants/

Saddle Seat Jodhpurs for Women. (n.d.). Equestrian Collections. https://www.equestriancollections.com/ladies-riding-apparel/jodhpurs/kentucky-jodhpurs

The world of women's horse riding breeches. (2019, December 10). For Horses. https://forhorses.it/blogs/blog/womens-equestrian-breeches-history-technology-prices

The Southern Amelia Earhart. (2019, January 17). Alabama Realtors. https://www.alabamarealtors.com/posts/2019/01/17/the-southern-amelia-earhart

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