Ladies Jumpers

The Classic Look of Ladies’ Jumpers

The idea of the jumper in its American version has its roots in the large aprons women used to wear for housework. When a woman only had one or two dresses and laundry couldn’t be done very frequently, she had to protect her clothes with an apron that covered her chest and skirt. The jumper evolved to take on a look and style similar to that of men’s overalls. Usually loose and often denim, the jumper is a sleeveless dress with thick straps worn over a blouse. In the 1940s, jumpers were worn tied at the waist and were a very popular item of junior wear.

Women of all ages embraced them as an easy way of appearing to have more clothes than they did, thanks to the cutbacks necessitated by rationing. They weren’t widely seen again outside the home until the 1960s, when a girlish look invaded fashion and short jumpers over puff-sleeved blouses became popular. Jumpers reverted to practicality in the 1970s and have remained so ever since.

Shopping for Jumpers

Because jumpers are nearly always worn loose, you can be very confident shopping for them online, as you don’t have to worry too much about fit. A good shopping source will give you the length of the jumper and the bust size and that should be all you need.

However, some women be uncomfortable shopping on certain sites, because many of the sites that offer jumpers are religious-based. While jumpers are a practical, attractive item to have in a wardrobe, they are commonly worn by women who, for religious reasons, opt for modest dress on a daily basis. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with this, but if you prefer to keep your shopping experience strictly secular, you will have to look elsewhere.

LL Bean Jumpers

The casual clothes standard bearer LL Bean nearly always has jumpers available, usually in spring and autumn. They are most often available in denim or corduroy, allowing you to wear them through the season. A jumper in a rich eggplant color can be dressed up or down for weekend wear depending on what you wear under it. You can throw it over a long or short-sleeved T-shirt for a country stroll or instead wear a pretty blouse and be ready for brunch or shopping. In fact, a jumper is a great item to wear when clothes-shopping because you can get in and out of it so quickly and easily, without mussing your hair.

Orvis Jumpers

Another good source for searching for quality jumpers is Orvis. They specialize in comfortable clothes especially designed for travel. A jumper is the perfect item to bring on a trip because it will go over everything, can be dressed up and down and can be worn for up to two weeks before it needs washing. A light spritz of vinegar will keep it fresh. You may only need some blouses, a cardigan and a jacket in addition to your jumper, making your suitcase nice and light.

Making Ladies’ Jumpers

Whether you already sew or are just learning, a jumper is a great item to work on. You won’t drive yourself crazy with a lot of pieces and fitting. You can even make a cute mother and daughter outfit! Some good pattern sources online include:

• The Sewing Place
• My Vintage Crafts
• Clotilde

One word of warning – if you are an inexperienced sewer, opt to make your jumper out of cotton, rather than denim or corduroy, as these fabrics can be harder to work. However, be assured you will end up with a fun and unique piece of clothing you can wear with pride!