Peterson's Magazine, November 1878

 Peterson's Magazine for November 1878 shows a selection of dresses in the style of the late 1870s: close fitting (worn over long, boned corsets) to below the knees, with the bulk of the ornaments and the material pushed to the back in the form of trains.  The look is balanced by very high hair-dos and hats.  Even the "walking dress" has these features—reminding us that the outfit was intended for promenading rather than serious exercise.

FIG. I. WALKING DRESS OF OLIVE-GREEN CAMEL'S HAIR...

FIG. II. VISITING DRESS OF EMERALD GREEN VELVET...

FIG. III. VISITING DRESS OF GRAY SILK, TRIMMED WITH NARROW GARNET VELVET...

FIG. IV. RECEPTION DRESS OF YELLOW SILK, PRINCESS SHAPE; worn under a dress or black Spanish net which is woven to fit the figure.

FIG. V. CARRIAGE DRESS OF SLATE-GRAY SILK...

Number 4 strikes me as being the most interesting garment of the lot.  It's curve-hugging silhouette and plunging neckline could almost be from Hollywood circa 1950!

"April's Lady in Paris" (Woman's Journal, April 1939)

 Let's take another look at high fashion in the days leading up to the Second World War.

We shall be seeing many stripes this season —worked straight, slantwise or as you will.  Anny Blatt, who makes these fascinating knitted models, has caught the fever with charming results.  There is the neat tailormade in red and black stripes for the daring and debonair, and a delightfully youthful dress in stripes of grey, cornflower blue and wine red, simulating pleats at the hem.  The almond green rib knitted suit has a graceful hip-length cape which doubles its advantages.

Styles of '65: Stretch Pants (National Bellas Hess, Spring-Summer 1965)

 In the 1960s, the fashionable look was slim, sleek and figure hugging.  It was also active, so the problem became combining a tight fit with clothes that moved.  Enter stretch pants, made possible by postwar developments in man-made fibres.

H.  VERTICAL STRETCH tapered leg cotton-nylon pants; stirrups, side zip.

J. DACRON-COTTON stretch pants fit the way you want them with never a wrinkle showing!  Vertical stretch Dacron polyester-cotton knits—laminated to acetate , keeps shape.  Band waist, side zipper, foot straps.

K. STRETCH DOESKIN... creamy-soft matte knit of acetate-nylon bonded to acetate... gives such s-m-o-o-t-h fit!  Food straps, side zipper.  Hand washable.

L.  CHECK STRETCH.  Action ready cotton-nylon pants in swinging checks.  Stretch horizontally.  Tapered, side zip.

M. STRETCH DENIM.  Look, gals... something new's been added to pet pants... a fashiony button front!  Denim weave cotton and nylon, designed to stretch in width only.  Plenty of action-room... but they keep that tapered sleek fit you're looking for!

N. STRETCH JUMP-ALL for smoothest, curviest shaping!  Cotton-nylon jump-all stretches up, down.  Back zip, tapered, stirrups.

Most of these stretch pants are made of cotton blended with synthetics (the cotton presumably to let the garments breathe, while the synthetics provided the s-t-r-e-t-c-h.)  Nylon appears to be the most popular material, with polyester and acetate coming a distant second.

You'll also note that the designers have borrowed from ski and active sportswear: foot straps and stirrups to anchor the pants down.