If you grew up with me in the ’90s, you may remember the overalls we all laughed at numerous times. I remember asking my sisters, “Why would Mom dress me in THAT?!” But times are changing.
Dating back to the late 1700s when they were worn by working men and in the early 1900s by working women, overalls were worn for uniformity purposes, not to amp up wardrobes. Once dubbed protective, then fashionable, then embarrassing and now trendy, opinions on overalls have been cyclical in nature. Some love them while others just don’t understand how style history is repeating itself. Well, overall lovers are in luck, because the trend has resurfaced in recent months at various places from large-scale department stores to local boutiques.
Even if you are hesitant to take a stroll down memory lane and don’t believe overalls are the right look for you, you may want to try them out anyway! Whether your style is conservative and feminine (like mine) and you adore floral prints, or you rock an emo-grunge exterior with lots of chains, be sure to choose a pair that screams “you.” They can be found nowadays in all colors and prints, so finding a pair that speaks to you should not be difficult if you are willing to keep an open mind.
Need inspiration? Celebrities such as Nicole Richie, Katie Holmes and many others have been photographed donning these throwbacks and, might I say, looking gorgeous in them. In era of quirky appearances and an “anything goes” attitude, overalls can offer a unique touch that shows you are bold and don’t mind taking fashion risks.
Images: Nicole Richie, Katie Holmes
You be the judge. Overalls: modernly chic or downright geek?
sunflower / 413 posts
Overalls are disgusting. I can’t even begin is talk about how much I hate them.
guest
I have one but they are shorts… I used to wear it when i was in highschool but I just don’t see myself wearing it unless I’m lazy and want to accentuate how young I look.
guest
I don’t find overalls particularly modern or geeky, but I wouldn’t wear them. I still have nightmares from when I was in pre-school and had a pair on that I couldn’t get the buckles undone in time during a run to the restroom. They may be practical for certain lines of work, but I wouldn’t wear them for fashion’s sake.
guest
Hmm… I wore those when I was 8-9, way back when, in the 90′s. When I saw those pictures from that time, I swore to myself never to be seen in those again, dead or alive. So that’d be a big no.
daisy / 603 posts
Overalls are geeky and ugly.
I remember wearing them when I was young, but that was when I didn’t dress myself… it’s okay mom and dad, you didn’t know:)
Even the most gorgeous people don’t look very good in overalls, I don’t even understand why they were made…. they’re just an adult onesie… weird.
daisy / 734 posts
Oh hey, I’m wearing overalls right now!
Although I bought mine because I’m an art major and always make a mess, so mine are covered in ink and paint and other colorful stains. I still like them though
I don’t know that I’d call them a fashion thing though. Some people can pull it off 
guest
I think they’re absolutely fine for casual wear – mums playing with their kids, for a weekend of DIY, for paining or for gardening or something, but I wouldn’t wear them to be stylish or to look good.
guest
I like the middle and third ones in the first picture.
guest
I… think they look kind of silly
guest
Overall’s were actually pretty popular with chicks in the 90′s in the city… Chick’s would wear em with the bib part hanging or with one strap down… :/ About the same time middle schoolers were walking around with binkies.
guest
not a fan of the denim ones – I like the middle one at the top and the shorts with the long straps. don’t think I’d wear them myself, though.
guest
I like them.
guest
geek is chic
i like those short-short ones
guest
not modern, or geek- i think they’re ugly and unflattering. They make skinny girls look pregnant and look ridiculous on women with boobs (I’ve been both in my life). To me, they’re utility clothing and nothing near a fashion statement.
guest
haa, overall skirt!
guest
This makes me feel like going to milk a cow.
Nic Ritchie’s outfit is cute though, only coz it looks more like suspenders rather than overalls.
guest
I always hated them. When you have to pee you have to open thee stupid buttons on the front and throw the other half of the top over shoulders and THEN you can carefully let your pants down.
When someone tears the strap on your shoulder you feel it in your ass crack.
The dress in the middle is really cute. But it’s a dress. The others are really ugly.
guest
i had an overalls phase in highschool. i don’t wanna go back to that again. ugh. lol!