a custom that has been practiced even since long pants became widely used in the US. The traditional knickerbockers of old were more like pants that had been folded back with long socks. Style During the early 1980s, media interest in the then-Lady Diana Spencer brought a brief commercial revival of the look in women's and unisex fashion both in Europe and North America, particularly among the "town and country", "New Romantic", and "preppie" sets. However, by 1984, the style had waned as more top-heavy styles with snug pants rendered the style obsolete. In Japan In Japan, tobi trousers—similar to knickerbockers—are worn by construction workers, and their popular length has significantly increased over time, lowering the baggy part down the bottom of the leg like plus-fours and plus-sixes, and sometimes to the feet like trousers. Knickers: Great Britain In the United Kingdom, Ireland and some Commonwealth nations, the term knickers is used for women's undergarments. Use of the term owes its origin to illustrator George Cruikshank, who did the illustrations for Washington Irving's droll History of New York when it was published in London. He showed the old-time Knickerbockers in their loose Dutch breeches, and by 1859, short loose ladies undergarments, a kind of abbreviated version of pantalettes or pantaloons, were knickers in England. See also Bloomers (clothing) Breeches Jodhpurs Knickerbocracy Plus fours References External links pattern On-line Etymology Dictionary "Knickerbocker: Origins of the name": some New York colonial genealogy Tim Wiles, "Letters in the Dirt:" no. 14 "Japanese Construction Worker Fashion" Knickers From the Historical Boys' Clothing website Why Knickerbockers? 19th-century fashion 20th-century fashion History of clothing (Western fashion) Undergarments Trousers and shorts