Photo: Gonzo Bonzo / Flickr

It would appear that any woman covering her legs in Paris, without a good medical reason, is acting against the law. Well, that’s according to an 18th century ordinace that is still on the books! But socialist senator Maryvonne Blondin, is planning to put an end to this. ‘I discovered this order this year, I was amazed,’ she said. ‘So I introduced a text in June, and I’m waiting to know when it will be reviewed.’

Blame it on the French Revolution

The ban on Parisian women wearing trousers can be traced back to the time of the French Revolution when a revolutionary group called ‘sans-culottes’ declared that they were going to wear trousers rather than knee-breeches. The knee-breeches, called ‘culottes’, were seen as bourgeoisie and what happened from there was a scandal. Women decided they also wanted to wear trousers. This was forbidden and so the law came into effect.

Attempts to repeal the ‘legal archeology’

Marie-Rose Astié of Valsayre requested that parliament change the ‘no trousers’ law in 1887. In 1972, counselor Michele Alliot-Marie caused a stir when she tried to enter the hemicycle wearing a pear of trousers. She was stopped by a bailiff and apparantly replied that she was sorry and that she would take them off as soon as possible.

Nothing happened when another attempt to repeal the ‘no trousers’ law was made by Jean-Yves Hugon in 2004. A more recent request to erase the antiquated law was also brushed aside. Even though the law has been described as ‘legal archeology’, officials in the Senate and National Assembly have only been permitted to sit in a pair of trousers since the year 1980.

Although the ‘no trousers’ law is still on the books, it is unconstitutional in a country that protects the equality of rights between men and women. Article 3 of the 1946 Consitution reads: ‘the law guarantees women equal rights with men in all areas.’

But still, the question remains: when will the women of Paris truly be free to wear trousers?

Tags: fashion