Dressed: The History of Fashion

Now mostly remembered as a painter, this week we look at the broad spectrum of the work of Sonia Delaunay with a special emphasis on her fashion and textile designs. Waleria Dorogova, co-curator of the exhibition Sonia Delaunay: Living Art which is now on view at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City joins us to speak about the years of research she did with Laura Microulis to deliver this fre...

This week, we are joined by Rebecca Seaver, the Director of Museum & Archive Services for Dolly Parton, and the person responsible for the curated selection of special pieces on view in Dolly's recently published memoir Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones. And thanks to the book's audio companion, we even hear from Dolly herself!  A special thank you to Rebecca and the Penguin Random House Au...

This week, we are joined by Rebecca Seaver, the Director of Museum & Archive Services for Dolly Parton, and the person responsible for the curated selection of special pieces on view in Dolly's recently published memoir Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones. And thanks to the book's audio companion, we even hear from Dolly herself!  A special thank you to Rebecca and the Penguin Random House Au...

In part II of this week's episode in commemorating the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire which occurred in Lower Manhattan on March 25, 1911, we examine how the fire started, hear from some of the survivors and learn about the sweeping labor reforms and worker protections which followed in its wake. Recommended resources: Cornell University's The 1911 Triangle Factory Fire ...

As the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory approaches in a few short days, this week we bring you a two-part episode on the nature of the New York City garment trade at the turn of the 20th century, and how a horrific workplace accident on March 25, 1911 reshaped the landscape of workers rights and protections. Recommended resources: Cornell University's The 1911 Triangle Factory...

This week we chat about the latest in fashion history news including Norma Kamali training an AI to design her legacy, the Oscar nominees for Best Costume Design, a new YSL bookshop in Paris and some of the spectacular pieces up for sale at recent fashion auctions. Recommended Resources: Vogue Archive Killers of the Flower Moon article by Christian Allaire The Art of Costume podcasts interview wit...

We continue our conversation with Isabel Attyah Flower and Marcel Rosa-Salas about nameplate jewelry, addressing its central and even controversial role in both sub and mainstream cultural expressions, including hip hop.  Recommended resources: The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture and Identity Documenting the Nameplate Instagram  Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our I...

Isabel Attyah Flower and Marcel Rosa-Salas join us to discuss their book The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture and Identity, which celebrates the myriad of meanings embedded in the multi-cultural and cross-generational phenomenon of nameplate jewelry. Recommended resources: The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture and Identity Documenting the Nameplate Instagram Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our we...

In the wonderful and often bizarre world of fashion fads from history, we ask the question: which should live on to wear another day and which should be left to history? Recommended resources: Bedazzled Beetles Hobble Skirt Painted knees Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of our favorite fashion history titles Support this...

Maison Margiela's Spring/Summer Paris 2024 Haute Couture collection show delivered a haunting jolt that is hard to forget. Whether you loved the show or hated it, it was a moment. And that moment–which will undoubtedly go down in fashion history–was also packed with references to the history of fashion itself. Alexandre Samson, Curator of Haute Couture from 1947 to Contemporary Design at the Palai...

An exceptionally famous milliner in her day, the life and career of Mildred Blount has been somewhat lost to history. Curator Taylor Bythewood-Porter joins us to shine a light on the first African-American to be admitted to the Motion Pictures Costumers Union and her glorious on-screen creations for films including Gone With the Wind and Gigi as well as her offscreen successes designing hats for H...

In the early years of the twentieth century, Madam C.J. Walker built an international, Black hair care empire from the ground floor up, transforming herself from a laundry work making $1.50 a day to the woman Guinness World Records identifies as the “first self-made millionairess.” This week, we learn all about her extraordinary life in an interview with her biographer—and great, great granddaught...

In part II of our episode on The Costume Institute's exhibition Women Dressing Women, co-curator Mellissa Huber takes us behind the scenes and shines a light on some of the invisible labor which does into mounting a major fashion in a museum. Can't make the show? Grab a copy of the amazing exhibition catalog here! Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website Our Instagram Our bookshelf ...

This week we are joined by Mellissa Huber and Karen Van Godtsenhoven, curators of The Costume Institute's exhibition Women Dressing Women, which is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City through March 10, 2024. The exhibition explores more than 100 years of fashion history via the work of women designers and centers their contributions to the industry at large. Can't make the s...

Fourth generation flower maker Adam Brand takes us behind the scenes of his family's business M&S Schmalberg. Founded by his family in 1916, the company is the last of its kind in America. M&S Schmalberg's website and Instagram Etsy store with a 20% discount just for Dressed listeners! Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of...

Fifth generation master pleater George Kalajian’s family has been perfecting the art of the pleat since the 19th century. He joins us to discuss the past, present, and future of his family’s renowned pleating enterprise Tom’s Sons International Pleating, a staple of New York City’s Garment District since the 1970s. Tom's Sons International Pleating's website and Instagram Want more Dressed: The Hi...

Our favorite vedette, Dita Von Teese, joins us this for part 2 of our conversation this week to chat about being the first-ever guest star at Paris' legendary cabaret, the Crazy House and her current residency in Las Vegas. Her show Dita Las Vegas: A Jubilant Revue is onstage now at the Jubilee Theater, formerly home to iconic acts including Frank Sinatra as well as the showgirl review Jubilee, wh...

We are kicking off our seventh season of Dressed in spectacular style as we are joined all this week by the one and only Dita Von Teese! A longtime vintage collector and star of the neo-burlesque scene, Dita's impact on contemporary visual culture cannot be underestimated. In part one of this two-part episode, we chat about her relationship with vintage style on and off stage and some of the amazi...

Join us for our now annual holiday party where we 'exchange' some of their favorite gifts from fashion's past and present. Gifts you can gift! Our very first online course What Women Wore to the Revolution Books for our bookshelf with over 100 of our favorite fashion history titles 18th Century Beauty Box 18th Century Beauty Spots Pressed flower dye kit Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? ...

This week marks the 50th anniversary of one of American fashion's greatest moments: the Battle of Versailles. "Halstonette" Chris Royer joins us to discuss her first hand account of modeling in the now legendary fashion face-off between French haute couture and American design. Want more Battle of Versailles? The King of Sexy Cling: An Interview with Stephen Burrows The Magic of 1970s Fashion with...

It's official!!! In today's episode we announce the launch of Dressed: The School of Fashion, chat about Prada's upcoming trip to the moon and recommend some fashion history newsletters to follow. Recommendations: Sign up for our first class: What Women Wore to the Revolution, Part I IKEA's Designer Towel Skirt Fashion Newsletters: Laura Beltran Rubio, Laura McLaws Helm, Jo Weldon Want more Dresse...

Have you ever pondered, 'but, what would Jane Austen wear?' We have all the answers for you in this episode, as Dr. Hilary Davidson joins us to talk about her two books: Dress in the Age of Jane Austen and Jane Austen's Wardrobe. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of our favorite fashion history titles! Support this podcast at — https:...

In today's episode, we answer some listener mail about what is and what isn't fast fashion, discuss the documentary Unboxing Shein and chat about the latest news from The Met's Costume Institute. Recommended: Fashion Revolution Transparency Index Good On You The True Cost documentary Unboxing Shein Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of...

Custom couturier to brides, debutantes and American socialites, including Jacqueline Bouvier and Marjorie Merriweather Post, The Saturday Evening Post once called Ann Lowe "society's best kept secret." Today, we explore the true breadth of Lowe's career with fashion curator Elizabeth Way who joins us to speak about her exhibition Ann Lowe: American Couturier, which is currently on view through Jan...

Just as fashion is more than pretty clothes, basketball is more than just a game. Pulitzer Prize winning author Mitchell S. Jackson joins us to discuss why the relationship between fashion and basketball matters historically and today. Purchase Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion Mitchell's website Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion?  Our website Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 10...