A jumpsuit is a slim-fitting, one-piece garment that covers the arms and legs. It was originally created in 1919 as a functional garment for parachuters to jump from planes. The boiler suit/overalls version of the jumpsuit is a looser fitting and more utilitarian style, worn by men who maintained coal-fire burners.

The male boiler suit was first adopted by female munitions workers during the Second World War when a more form-fitting suit with bloomer-like legs was designed to better fit women’s bodies. 

The late 1960s and 1970s were prime years for the jumpsuit. There were sportswear styles for the day, and leather one-pieces or embellished designs for the evening. Almost every designer had his or her own version of the jumpsuit, from Oscar de la Renta and Christian Dior to André Courrèges and Yves Saint Laurent.