Boy-o!
I wish I had that power. I can’t find the thread, either. I’ll keep looking though. I’m always pleased when comments like yours come up, in truth.

Thank you, and Thank you

But Smithy I do feel i may have a defence for not staying on the subject of this thread, and the reason is: I have absolutely no idea what-so-ever what ‘SLACKS’ are. It doesn’t happen very often, but now and again the odd word will come up that either is used only in the U.S, and not over here, or the word is used, but it means something different there, to what it means over here. I was genuinelly shocked when I saw Officer Fouke’s report refer to Zodiac leg garments as ‘Trousers’. I didn’t think Americans even used that word and simply called everything ‘Pants’, which is another word used to describe a garment of clothing over there, and used here to refer to a different item of clothing.

Anyway, sorry for going off topic again but….

Oh yeah, what are SLACKS? Or what would be the British equivalent?

From my American point of view I think the equivalent for slacks would be trousers.

From my British point of view, and since I’m older than you WC, I’d say slacks are casual trousers, looser and less formal than regular trousers.
The trouble is though, that’s opinion. And describing anything in one or two words leaves room for opinion.
Back on track (it don’t matter none son!) it’s a shame that all the property wasn’t photographed – and that the only photograph of this slack dress/pair of slacks/trouser suit/pair of slacks/etc. – is of a piece of the pattern, rather than of the whole article.

From my American point of view I think the equivalent for slacks would be trousers.

Ok, thank you Seagull

From my personal dumb American POV, I always put on my ‘pants’ -that’s what I’ve always called them- unless they are made of denim, in which case I put on my ‘jeans.’

But that’s just the local ‘lingo’ around here, mates. I always thought ‘trousers’ were what old people wore.

-glurk

From my personal dumb American POV, I always put on my ‘pants’ -that’s what I’ve always called them- unless they are made of denim, in which case I put on my ‘jeans.’

But that’s just the local ‘lingo’ around here, mates. I always thought ‘trousers’ were what old people wore.

-glurk

Glurk, where did I insinuate that Americans are ‘Dumb’ for calling trousers pants? If i’ve read your post wrong than I apologize, but it reads as a sarcastic reply because it seems you think I was being disrespectful toward Americans. I certainlly wasn’t and if it came across that I was, then again I apologize as that my intention at all.

WC – that’s "wry humor" from the glurk-meister, who isn’t dumb, so fears no assertions that he might be.
Since I’m old, I do wear trousers. But then I’ve been wearing trousers since I lobbied my parents to get my first "long" pair at the age of 10.
Strange, this language business.
DAMN I wish there were a photo from the evidence locker.
Still -it’s not THE most important thing, I suppose.

I call mine leg gloves.

Ha!
And somehow, I’m managing not to be surprised, Trav.

Thanks to all those that answered These Transatlantic differences can be frustrating. I’m reminded of many times in my teens hearing the word ‘Faucet’ and not having a clue what this was lol. I’m still seeing a therapist to this day hehe.

Being a teenager during that time period, I can add the following.

My father referred to his pants, as "Slacks". I called mine pants. Although I have heard woman during that time, call theirs slacks. They usually were nicer looking pants, when they did so.

Being that I am about the same age as I believe Zodiac is, the word slacks were more dressy than pants . Trousers were worn by men, I never heard that word used to describe what a female would wear. I went round and round with Tom Horan about what Darlene had on that night, and posted pictures of what a slack/ pant dress was. I knew because I wore them. It is one piece from top to bottom , usually with bell like flare at the bottom. They were later called jump suits.
For Zodiac to make the destintion of Darlene wearing pants/ slacks, he would have had to see her in them out of the car, like at Terry’s. There is no way for him to be able to tell they were Slacks/ pants otherwise. (something to think about ?)

Sandy, do you recall if perhaps the waitresses there wore white peasant style blouses? You know the kind, I’m sure. They had elastic around the neckline so they could be worn off-the-shoulder and typically had short sleeves with elastic at the bottom.

I also wore the styles you show and the ones with the short legs were sometimes called "playsuits" and are really similar to onesies or rompers now that I think of it. The ones with the long legs were also called "jumpsuits."

My aunt would refer to both women’s and men’s pants as slacks. In those days, women didn’t wear pants everywhere as they do now and the pantsuits were just starting to be worn to work and to school.

But what I am really curious about is whether a peasant blouse was worn by any waitresses along with a skirt that had suspender like straps or a Tyrolean top. The other restaurant I’ve heard about where I’m thinking this type of uniform could have been worn was Lyons coffee shop and if not that, was there any other that you can think of anywhere in the areas you are familiar with?

I think he looked in and simply saw two legs in some clothing which looked like pants or slacks when sitting in her car. I don’t think Zodiac was trying to be too technical on the name of what you’d call them.

As provided earlier in this thread. This is a sketch of the actual outfit Darlene wore. They show the exact fabric in the Fincher Documentary:

Sandy, do you recall if perhaps the waitresses there wore white peasant style blouses? You know the kind, I’m sure. They had elastic around the neckline so they could be worn off-the-shoulder and typically had short sleeves with elastic at the bottom.

I also wore the styles you show and the ones with the short legs were sometimes called "playsuits" and are really similar to onesies or rompers now that I think of it. The ones with the long legs were also called "jumpsuits."

My aunt would refer to both women’s and men’s pants as slacks. In those days, women didn’t wear pants everywhere as they do now and the pantsuits were just starting to be worn to work and to school.

But what I am really curious about is whether a peasant blouse was worn by any waitresses along with a skirt that had suspender like straps or a Tyrolean top. The other restaurant I’ve heard about where I’m thinking this type of uniform could have been worn was Lyons coffee shop and if not that, was there any other that you can think of anywhere in the areas you are familiar with?

Sorry I don’t remember where I saw what you have described, I still have that style blouse saved in a box with lots of clothes from the 60’s. I sell them to stores in southern cailf., for more than I paid for them .