10 fashion items you didn’t know were originally made for men

Many everyday things we see or use today actually have surprising histories that often challenge what we assume about them. When you add the layer of gender roles and how society once viewed these items, their stories become even more fascinating.

In this article, Tribune Online presents ten things you probably didn’t know were originally made for men:

1. Wigs

In the 17th century, hairlines were an important aspect of fashion. A good hairline was the mark of a well-bred man. Unfortunately, syphilis was also on the rise in Europe, ultimately affecting more people than the Black Plague. 

This happened well before the discovery of antibiotics, so those afflicted with syphilis suffered all the effects, including sores and patchy hair loss. As good hair was associated with status and style, it was also used to flaunt wealth, which compounded the shame of having syphilis.

The lasting legacy of wigs is undeniable, British judges and barristers still wore wigs well into the 21st century, although the practice is largely ceremonial now.

2. High heels

High heels were used in 10th-century Persia by men. These shoes were designed for cavalrymen and enabled them to maintain stability while standing in the stirrups. 

The heel secured their foot and improved control during combat. Later, European aristocrats adopted the style as a symbol of power and height. Eventually, high heels shifted toward women’s fashion in the 1630s and became more decorative.

3. The colour pink

Until the 1940s, pink often appeared in boys’ clothing. It was seen as strong and attention-grabbing, while blue had a softer image. Retailers began promoting pink as a girls’ colour in the postwar years. By the 1980s, the shift had taken hold in advertising, nursery décor, and children’s wear.

4. Stockings

Stockings were originally a practical garment for men, made for warmth and protection, evolving from simple leg wrappings to more tailored, knitted hose as men’s tunics and breeches shortened, exposing more of their legs. 

As high-fashion and luxury items, the creation of silk hose in the Middle Ages was a major driver of knitting technology, and even after women adopted stockings, men’s elaborate hosiery remained a status symbol for centuries.

5. Handbags

Long before pockets were standard, men needed a way to carry coins and everyday items. They attached small pouches to belts or hid them under cloaks. These bags were utilitarian and part of ordinary life. Only in the 19th and 20th centuries did handbag styles become decorative and marketed to women.

6. Corsets

During the 18th and 19th centuries, some men wore corsets to achieve a fashionable slim silhouette, improve posture, and provide back or abdominal support. They were especially useful for soldiers, hunters, and men with physical strain or obesity, with specific designs like “The Carlton” for military men and “The Kitchener” for hunters. 

While corsets helped men fit tightly into tailored clothing and maintain discipline, they were also associated with dandies, men seen as overly concerned with fashion which created a social stigma. Despite this, wearing corsets was not regarded as cross-dressing. However, women adopted the garment to mould their waistlines and enhance their shape.

7. Berets

Berets were not originally made for women. The modern beret originated in the Basque Country and was first adopted by men as practical, durable headwear for outdoor work and later by the military for its functionality in the field and ability to be stowed away. 

The association of the beret with femininity is a more recent development, as it gained popularity in female fashion in the 1930s after being embraced by artists and later adopted by famous designers like Coco Chanel.

8. Makeup

In ancient Egypt and 18th-century France, elite men wore makeup to reflect status, hygiene, and fashion awareness. Eye kohl, powder, and rouge were part of daily grooming. 

As time passed, makeup became linked to femininity, largely through changing cultural expectations. But for centuries, men led its use and popularised many of the products still sold today.

9. Trench coats

Trench coats were originally made for British and French soldiers during World War I to provide them with a practical, waterproof, and durable alternative to their traditional heavy wool coats, which were unsuitable for the conditions of trench warfare. 

The coats’ design features, such as a belted waist, shoulder straps, and a long length, offered protection from the harsh elements and symbolised rank for officers who could afford them.

10. Handbags

The modern handbag evolved from men’s hand-held bags in the early 1900s. Fashion designers adapted these masculine bags to feminine styles, adding features like closures and compartments to enhance functionality. Over time, the women’s handbag became the dominant accessory, replacing the male version.