Redressing Fashion

Join me as I explore ten exciting exhibitions in London that every fashion enthusiast should visit. From royal celebrations to contemporary critiques, this episode covers must-see showcases that blend fashion, art, music, and history—perfect for your summer cultural itinerary. Thanks for tuning in, and happy fashion exploring! 🚨 Book your FASHION HISTORY & SHOPPING TOUR OF LONDON — https://la...

Welcome back to my adventures as a fashion historian and style coach—and to a new and upgraded version of my Life Lately. I hope you do take that ‘upgraded’ seriously because we’re experimenting with new formats (blending audiovisuals with writing) and finally reporting from the other side of my most recent life changes. In this episode I reflect on shedding the last of my academic identity, embra...

Today, I’m joined by Kaitlyn Moore, a body image advocate and influencer, to explore the realities of existing in fashion as a fat girl. We dive into how fashion industry norms impact fat bodies and discuss strategies to empower diverse self-expression through clothing. This candid conversation is packed with insights for anyone interested in challenging fashion stereotypes and embracing authentic...

Welcome back to Redressing Fashion ! It’s been way too long, as life has been life-ing a bit too hard for me recently. But I’m back with an episode I’ve been wanting to create for ages, inspired by the shift in my career. Since leaving my academic post a few months ago and embracing personal style coaching, I’ve realized I’ve become my clients’ personal fashion anthropologist. Today, I’m bringing...

Join me in celebrating the tenth episode of Redressing Fashion! It has been a long journey, filled with constant changes—including the major transition I’m currently navigating. So today I take more of a reflective stance to share personal milestones, my recent career shifts, and a bunch of not-so-loose thoughts about the importance of fashion history in shaping the future of the industry. I talk,...

In this solo episode, I discuss the importance of mindful shopping, especially during the holiday season. I emphasize the freedom of choice in shopping and the impact that each of our shopping habits can have on the world around us—immediately and more broadly. I talk about the reasons for wanting to shop (or not), the significance of budgeting and planning ahead, and share a few practical strateg...

In this episode, Laura talks with Dr Georgia Ennis about plastic-free living, sustainable fashion, and the close connection between plastic-free fashion and language ecologies in the Ecuadorian Amazon. They share insights on how to conduct research as allies of Indigenous peoples worldwide, embrace slower approaches to fashion, and bring scholarly research outside of academia. Tune in to learn abo...

This episode is a recording after my Keynote Lecture for the Costumers of Color 2025 Georgian Global Salon. The lecture sheds light on some underrepresented histories of fashion in the eighteenth century. The talk explores how the diversity of fashion practices among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color around the world shaped fashion in the Georgian era. In an increasingly globalized century, f...

Niya DeGroat shares their journey in the fashion industry, highlighting the importance of Indigenous representation and the challenges faced by Two-Spirit individuals. Niya discusses their work with Phoenix Fashion Week, the recent launch of their magazine Indigène, and the significance of slow fashion practices. Niya emphasizes the need for collaboration between Indigenous designers and mainstrea...

In this episode, Dr Laura Beltrán-Rubio reviews the exhibition ‘Textiles: The Art of Mankind’ at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. She discusses the integral role of textiles in human history, the beauty of the exhibited pieces, and the challenges faced in curatorial practices. Laura critiques the language and representation used in the exhibition, highlighting missed opportunities to enga...

In celebration of the back-to-school season, Dr. Laura Beltrán-Rubio discusses the need to redress fashion history education by incorporating diverse perspectives and personal narratives, while also emphasizing the significance of engaging students’ passions and values in their learning process. The conversation highlights various strategies for educators to create a more inclusive and meaningful...

In this episode, Laura returns to share a long-awaited review* of the book Fashion Education: The Systemic Revolution (2023), edited by Ben Barry and Deborah A. Christel. The book, consisting of 17 chapters by various fashion educators, aims to revolutionize fashion education with a focus on inclusivity and diversity. Laura discusses her personal readings and highlights the book’s diverse perspect...

In the first interview of Redressing Fashion , Laura interviews Faith Cooper about her research on Asian fashion and her work behind the digital project, Asian Fashion Archive. They talk about cultural identity in fashion, some of Faith’s favorite aspects about Asian fashion, and how to redress fashion from Asian perspectives. About Faith: Faith Cooper is the creator of the digital resource projec...

In this inaugural episode of the podcast, I share my journey in fashion and how I’ve become more and more attuned into the transformative power of fashion. I explain why I’ve decided to start this podcast anew, my mission to become a bridge between fashion academia, the industry, and consumers, and my vision for ‘redressing fashion’ to create a better world. This episode sets the stage for future...

In this solo episode, Laura Beltrán-Rubio reflects on her summer experiences, the challenges of navigating burnout in academia and the fashion industry, and the importance of reconnecting with personal style. She shares insights from her travels, research collaborations in Colombia, and the impact of recent conferences on her work. The episode emphasizes the need for questioning existing narrative...

In this (unscripted) episode, I share a bit about my new life in London, especially as I attempt to navigate what decentering/unsettling/decolonizing fashion might look like from one of its global capitals. I also talk about my three favorite—though unconventional and certainly more diverse than what mainstream media has been talking about—runway shows at London Fashion Week. Finally, I offer some...

In this episode, Laura shares some of her initial ideas on what it means to redress fashion from a historical perspective. This episode combines a presentation she gave at the Chicago Fashion Lyceum in 2020 with her Ph. D. dissertation and a 2022 published essay. You’ll hear about the separate definitions that we are often given for “fashion,” “costume,” and “dress” and be left with reflection pro...

In this episode, Laura introduces herself and shares what it means to “redress fashion.” Listen all the way to the end for a surprise giveaway and to learn more about what to expect in future episodes of this show! Relevant links & references (in order of appearance): Laura’s biography: https://laurabelru.com/biography/   Laura’s publication portfolio: https://laurabelru.com/publications/   Di...