Bloomer

Bloomer is a surname of English origin and a place name in the United States. It can also function as a common noun formed from bloom, though in modern usage it is most often encountered as a proper noun in references to people and places. The term appears in discussions of 19th-century dress reform and American social history through its association with the Bloomers movement.

Bloomers are baggy knee-length trousers worn by women in the mid-19th century, typically worn under a skirt. The fashion was popularized in the United States by Amelia Bloomer, an abolitionist and editor, who featured the garment in 1851 advocacy writings. The style symbolized a push for practical dress and greater women's autonomy, and it sparked significant controversy at the time.

Amelia Bloomer (1818–1894) was an American women's rights advocate and editor, best known for promoting bloomers as a more practical alternative to restrictive attire. Her advocacy helped ignite debates about female dress and public presence in the 1840s and 1850s, and she published The Lily, an influential reform periodical.

Bloomer, Wisconsin, is a city in Chippewa County, United States.

In current usage, the term bloomer is chiefly encountered as a surname or place name; when referring to clothing, the historical garment is usually described as bloomers rather than a single bloomer. The related surname and place names continue to appear in historical and genealogical contexts.