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                    THE FIRST WOMAN TO WEAR TROUSERS                         
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The first woman to wear trousers as an article of feminine apparel was the   
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French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who in the year 1876 was photographed at her 
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Paris studio costumed in a jacketed trouser-suit of extraordinarily modern   
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style and appearance.                                                        
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Women of fashion, ready enough to follow Sarah Bernhardt's lead in other di- 
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rections, did not emulate her in this.It was women's entry into the world of 
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organized games that eventually allowed for a relaxation of the prevailing   
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code on what was acceptable female wear. The first woman known to have adop- 
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ted trousers for sporting purposes was 25-year-old Miss Sears, USA, who in   
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1909 appeared on the polo ground of a Country Club in jacket and trousers and
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asked to be allowed to participate in a match about to be played against a   
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team from England. It was recorded that the English Captain was rendered     
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speechless and that the Manager of the American team promptly ordered her    
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from the field.                                                              
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