"Dress over pants" sets—a truly deplorable (but fortunately short-lived) fashion of the early seventies that made the wearers' look as if they'd put all their clothes on at once in a fit of indecisiveness.
To be fair the entire fashion era was indecisive, especially for those who were neither young nor groovy. Pants were only just becoming acceptable for women's wear in many situations, and there were still places—workplaces, churches, restaurants—where they were not allowed. This is clearly an attempt at compromise, albeit an unsuccessful one!
Skirts were another area of contention, with women caught between the mini-skirt (unflattering to older legs) and manufacturers trying to push the calf-length "midi". Evelyn Roaman nails it in the introduction to this catalogue:
I know you are wondering about the new lengths, and I hope my opinion may be of help.I am confident that most Roaman's customers this season will want to wear their daytime dresses at or slightly below the knee. This may be an inch or two longer than you wore them before, so we're cutting our garments accordingly.
Wherever possible we are providing ample hems... to shorten or lengthen... so you can have it your own way. And ... your own way is right!
Many younger women will wear shorter lengths. Many, of all ages, will want "midi"," down to the mid-calf—especially smart for coats, and many skirts. Mix the long and short in one look (split level) or in "layers", or wear both separately (as in this catalog).
This season you can choose, and be right, with the length that suits you best,
A far cry from the era when skirt lengths were dictated by designers!
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