Dressed: The History of Fashion

This week we travel into the Dressed archive to revisit a two-part episode on the sacred cultural practice and art form of Diné (Navajo) weaving with internationally acclaimed authors, educators, and fifth generation weavers Lynda Teller Pete and Barbara Teller Ornelas.  Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fa...

In part two of our 2022 two-part episode, we continue our deep dive into the inner fashion sanctoms of nineteenth century "dudedom," exploring everything from dude fashion trends to the epic, nationally publicized battle to be "King of the Dudes."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this two-part episode from 2022, we travel back in time to a bygone era when "dude" meant "dandy" and learn all about the now lost fashionable connotations of one of the most popular slang terms in modern parlance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing gets between a woman and her fashion! Dr. Elizabeth Block joins us for part two of our 2023 episode on Gilded Age fashion in a discussion on fashionable smuggling, thievery, and the costumes of Gilded Age Season 2! Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Dressed is a part of the Air...

French haute couturiers reigned supreme during the late 19th and 20th centuries--but they did not achieve this status on their own. This week we revisit our two-part interview with Dr. Elizabeth Block, who joined us in 2023 to discuss her book Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion which celebrates the lesser known figures behind the international success of the French haute couture,...

In this 2021 episode, Barbara Flood joined us to discuss her passion for fashion that spans her 1960s and 70s modeling career as a "Gernreich Girl" into the present day.  Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Dressed is a part of the AirWave Media network Learn more about your ad choices....

Recorded live at the Chicago History Museum, “librarian of clothing” Jessica Pushor takes us behind the seams of her exhibition Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective. On view at the museum until July 27th, 2025, the exhibition celebrates the museum’s incredible 50,000+ fashion and textile collection, but also the many people who have shaped its existence for the past 100 years.  R...

The Dressed Bookshelf has over 150 fashion history titles and counting! This week, we highlight some our favorite recent additions. Books discussed in the episode: Azzedine Alaia: A Couturier’s Collection Claire McCardell:  The Designer Who Set Women Free by Elizabeth Evitts Dickenson Dress History of Korea: Critical Perspectives on Primary Sources, ed. Kyunghee Pyun and Minjee Kim Fashion & Mothe...

Is it pink for girls and blue for boys OR is it pink for boys and blue for girls?!! Professor Jo B. Paoletti, author of Pink and Blue: Telling the Boys From the Girls in America, joins us to discuss the history of childrenswear and the role clothing plays in children's developing concepts of gender. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠classes⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagr...

Fern Mallis joins us today to speak about her career which spans six decades of shaping, supporting and championing first American fashion, and later turning her expertise towards developing fashion weeks around the globe. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠classes⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠bookshelf⁠⁠⁠ with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Dres...

Internationally beloved teacher, mentor, and fashion authority Tim Gunn returns to Dressed to discuss his sixteen seasons at Project Runway and the origins of his famous catchphrase "Make it work." Want More Tim Gunn: Tim's Instagram Tim's 2022 Dressed Interview Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion his...

One of the most iconic dresses in fashion history, the finely pleated, Grecian-inspired "Delphos" gown is synonymous with Mariano Fortuny, but it should be credited to his partner in life and work Henriette Negrin. This is her story. Recommended resources: "More than a Muse" article Google Arts & Culture article on the Delphos "The Knossos Scarf" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

A'Lelia Bundles joins us to discuss the remarkable life of her great-grandmother--and namesake--A'Lelia Walker, a defining figure of the Harlem Renaissance and the subject of her recently published book Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance.  More from A’Lelia Bundles: “Madame C.J. Walker” Dressed episode  On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker ⁠Instagram⁠ Want...

In part two of our episode on the 19th century English dandy Beau Brummell, Dr. Chloe Chapin joins us again to question the many myths surrounding Brummell, and we take a closer look at what the historical record actually reveals. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠classes⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠bookshelf⁠⁠⁠ with over 150 of our favorite fashion history tit...

This week we continue the life, legend and myth of arguably the most famous dandy of all time, Beau Brummell. In part one of this episode, Dr. Chloe Chapin joins us to establish his biography and regale us with the many anecdotes of Brummell's sartorial snobbery. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠classes⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠bookshelf⁠⁠⁠ with over 150 of...

Monica L. Miller joins us all this week to discuss her groundbreaking exhibition ⁠Superfine: Tailoring Black Style⁠, which celebrates over 300 years of Black style through the lens of dandyism. On view now at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until October 26th, 2025. Further learning: ⁠Monica's tour of the exhibit tour⁠ ⁠Superfine catalog⁠ ⁠Slaves to Fashion⁠ book Learn more...

Monica L. Miller joins us all this week to discuss her groundbreaking exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which celebrates over 300 years of Black style through the lens of dandyism. On view now at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until October 26th, 2025. Further learning: Monica's tour of the exhibit tour Superfine catalog Slaves to Fashion book Learn more about y...

Today we introduce you to one of our favorite history podcasts, History Daily. And one of the reasons that we think you all will enjoy History Daily’s content is we share a common belief as they say that “History is human.” History Daily finds the overlooked and often forgotten human stories behind the names and dates of ordinary history.  Which we love! Please enjoy these two fifteen minute Histo...

Our latest edition of "Fashion History Now" is an around the world journey. From Japan to Australia to New York, we shine the spotlight on documentaries, exhibitions, and ethical products that celebrate fashion's past, present and future.  To enjoy: ⁠Hazel Village's⁠ ethically made woodland animals  To follow:  Keita Motoji's Linkedin Instagram: @kimonoreborntokyo, @tokyokimonoshoes To visit/atten...

In this week's two-part episode, we explore the work of the "phantasmagoric couturier" Leigh Bowery, who has been described as "artist and art object, a thing to see, to experience." Primarily using dress and his own body as his medium of expression, Bowery's work was equally at home in contemporary art institutions and in the London club scene during the 1980s and 1990s. Tate Modern curator Fiont...

In this week's two-part episode, we explore the work of the "phantasmagoric couturier" Leigh Bowery, who has been described as "artist and art object, a thing to see, to experience." Primarily using dress and his own body as his medium of expression, Bowery's work was equally at home in contemporary art institutions and in the London club scene during the 1980s and 1990s. Tate Modern curator Fiont...

This week we hear from some of our very favorite guests: YOU! From your questions about Medieval millinery to Brooke Shield's infamous campaign for Calvin Klein jeans when she was just 15 and a fashion history archive recommendation today we answer and review your listener mail. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠classes⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠bookshelf⁠⁠ with ove...

On May 18th, 1908, 3 fashion models were reportedly arrested at Paris's Longchamps racecourse. But just what was so criminal about the clothing they wore? On this first edition of our new "Dressed Diaries" series, we head back in time and straight into the pages of fashion history to investigate this scandalous event. Find Sue Ralph's blog post on Margaine-Lacroix here.  Want more Dressed: The His...

We bring you Part II of our annual coverage of the most anticipated fashion history event of the year: the 2025 Met Gala which accompanies The Costume Institute's sure to be blockbuster exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠classes⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠bookshelf⁠⁠ with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Dres...

We bring you Part I of our annual coverage of the most anticipated fashion history event of the year: the 2025 Met Gala which accompanies the Costume Institute's sure to be blockbuster exhibition ⁠Superfine: Tailoring Black Style⁠. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our ⁠website⁠ and ⁠classes⁠ Our ⁠Instagram⁠ Our ⁠bookshelf⁠ with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Dressed is...