In this special episode, we honor the 51st anniversary of the Battle of Versailles, a groundbreaking moment in Black fashion history that took place on November 28, 1973. Filmmaker Deborah Riley-Draper joins us to discuss her acclaimed documentary Versailles '73, which brought this iconic event to life on screen. Draper shares how this historic fas…

Where some people study fashion history, today's guest Anneliese Mack lives it! Anneliese joins us to talk about her multifaceted career as a historical interpreter and costumer, educator, seamstress, weaver, and founder of the popular blog and Instagram account The Sewphisticate. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes O…

In this episode, Taniqua Martin sits down with the dynamic sisters Essie Brew-Hammond and Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, founders of the luxury brand Exit 14! Dive into their journey, discover the inspiration behind their choice of Batakari fabric, and learn about the meaning of Exit 14 and its tagline, "tailored for your journey." Exit 14 blends traditio…

Today's episode is dedicated to one of the greatest visual storytellers of our time, costume designer Sandy Powell who joins us to talk about her prolific 40 year career creating movie magic. Her work is the subject of a current exhibition Sandy Powell Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film on view now at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film un…

Please enjoy this episode of the new podcast series Lost Notes: Groupies which introduces you the bad ass ladies--and style icons-- of the legendary groupie scene of the 1960s and 70s. That includes the young women who made up the first all girl band of all girl groups, the GTO, also known as Girls Together Outrageously. Learn more about the podcas…

In part II of this episode, we continue our conversation with Lebanese-British journalist Zahra Hankir who joins us all this week to speak about her book Eyeliner: A Cultural History, which is a deep dive into one of the world’s oldest cosmetic practices. From its origins in Ancient Egypt to contemporary drag, we traverse the globe in a two-part ep…

This week Lebanese-British journalist Zahra Hankir joins us to speak about her book Eyeliner: A Cultural History, which is a deep dive into one of the world’s oldest cosmetic practices. From its origins in Ancient Egypt to contemporary drag, we traverse the globe in a two-part episode to discuss the ways that eyeliner has connected us over more tha…

In this episode of Black Fashion History, host Taniqua Martin sits down with Charlene Dunbar, the brilliant mind behind Suakoko Betty! From engineering to fashion design, Charlene's journey is a true inspiration. She shares her love for African fashion, the importance of cultural representation, and how African designers can benefit from the global…

From the houses of the great haute couturiers and courtesans to the oldest haberdasheries and perfume makers in France, this week we take you behind the seams of our recent fashion history tours of Paris. Recommendations: La Païva La Galerie Dior Les Puces Fondation Azzedine Alaïa Hôtel Drouot Atelier Caraco Rebecca's Textile Tours of Paris Ultramo…

In this episode, Taniqua Martin chats with fashion professor Ntebo Lepheana to explore the rich traditions and style history of the Basotho people. Ntebo shares how Basotho cultural heritage has shaped her perspective on fashion and how she brings this unique lens to her work in the classroom. She discusses iconic Basotho garments like the Seanamar…

From the houses of the great haute couturiers and courtesans to the oldest haberdasheries and perfume makers in France, this week we take you behind the seams of our recent fashion history tours of Paris. Recommendations: La Païva La Galerie Dior Les Puces Fondation Azzedine Alaïa Hôtel Drouot Atelier Caraco Rebecca's Textile Tours of Paris Ultramo…

This week we revisit two of our all-time favorite episodes with FIDM Museum curators Kevin Jones and Christina Johnson. Their traveling exhibition Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls, 1800-1960 is a definitive retrospective of women’s participation in and their incredible wardrobes pour le sport. Exhibition catalog: Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls, 180…

In this episode of Black Fashion History, host Taniqua Martin sits down with fashion journalist Elvis Kachi to explore his journey into the fashion industry and his mission to tell authentic African fashion stories. They dive into the unique elements of African fashion, the challenges of getting these stories published, and the need for diverse sto…

This week we revisit two of our all-time favorite episodes with FIDM Museum curators Kevin Jones and Christina Johnson. Their traveling exhibition Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls, 1800-1960 is a definitive retrospective of women’s participation in and their incredible wardrobes pour le sport. Recommended reading: Jones, Kevin and Christina Johnson.…

What stories can our clothes tell? This week we celebrate the groundbreaking exhibition Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore with curators Kiki Smith and Keren Ben-Horin. The exhibit is the first to display the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection which prizes the everyday clothing of ordinary women, from hard-worn house dre…

In this episode of Black Fashion History, Taniqua Martin dives into a powerful conversation with Beatrace Angut Oola, the visionary founder of Fashion Africa Now. Beatrace shares her inspiring journey of decolonizing the fashion industry, challenging Western-centric norms, and elevating African voices. Don't miss this transformative discussion on r…

What stories can our clothes tell? This week we celebrate the groundbreaking exhibition Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore with curators Kiki Smith and Keren Ben-Horin. The exhibit is the first to display the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection which prizes the everyday clothing of ordinary women, from hard-worn house dre…

This week, we revisit one our Halloween-themed episodes from 2018 in which we "dissect" the iconic flapper look from head to toe. Our Sponsors: * Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/DRESSED * Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code DRESSED for a great deal: happymammoth.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dressed-the-history-of-fas…

For artist Frida Kahlo, clothing, art and identity were inextricably linked. This week, we revisit our 2018 episode that accompanied the V&A exhibition: Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up, which explored the ways Kahlo constructed her iconic image using the clothing and accessories she put on her body. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our we…

Amid the French Revolution, a youth subculture became notorious for adopting styles so extreme they were dubbed 'incredible' and 'marvelous.' In this 2018 episode from the Dressed archive, we speak about some of fashion's first hipsters: the incroyablesand the merveilleuses. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Ins…

Dive into the world of African fashion with Jacqueline Brown in this episode of the Black Fashion History Podcast! From her British-Jamaican roots to her pioneering role with Africa Fashion Guide, Jacqueline discusses the diversity in African fashion and shares her passion for textiles and sustainable fashion. Discover how she navigates ethical cha…

Please enjoy this episode from the Dressed archive on fashion, politics and the French Revolution, a tumultuous period when the clothes you wore could be a matter of life or death. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of our favorite fashion history titles Our Sponsors: * Check…

Researchers rejoice! Today we continue our deep dive on American fashion history with Natalie Nudell, who joins us for an update on her multivalent project analyzing and making accessible the Fashion Calendar. Ruth Finley’s Fashion Calendar served as American fashion’s organizational hub for more than seven decades and is an invaluable record of ti…

In this episode, Taniqua Martin interviews Tosin Adeosun, the brilliant mind behind the African Style Archive! Discover Tosin's own style journey, her deep dive into African fashion history, and how she's preserving this rich cultural heritage. Learn about the pioneers of African fashion and the importance of documenting these vibrant stories. For …

This week’s deep dive into the history of American fashion begins with a conversation with Nancy MacDonell who joins us to discuss her newest book Empresses of 7th Avenue: WWII, New York City and the Birth of American Fashion which details the pantheon of women behind the rise of American fashion during the 1940s. Want more Dressed: The History of …

In this week’s two part episode, Dr. Elizabeth L. Block joins us to discuss the cultural significance of hair and hairdressing in 19th century America, introducing us to the spaces and faces that defined this booming industry and profession and are the subject of her new book Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing. More from Elizabeth…

In this episode of the Black Fashion History, Taniqua Martin sits down with Ken Kweku Nimo, an author and expert in African fashion and material culture. From Ghana to South Africa, Ken shares his inspiring journey, discussing how his experiences have shaped his unique perspective on African fashion history. Dive into the impact of colonization, th…

We've often discussed what stories are woven into the clothes we wear, but what about those braided into our hair? In this week’s two part episode, Dr. Elizabeth L. Block joins us to discuss the cultural significance of hair and hairdressing in 19th century America, introducing us to the spaces and faces that defined this booming industry and profe…

Following up on our wildly popular 2022 episode on obscure fashion terms from history, we bring you an all new two-part episode from A to Z! Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Our Sponsors: * Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/DRESSED …

Following up on our wildly popular 2022 episode on obscure fashion terms from history, we bring you an all new two-part episode from A to Z! Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion history titles Our Sponsors: * Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/DRESSED …

Based on her one-woman show, WHat I wORE to Work, this week Jo Weldon joins us for a two-part episode to explore the "intersection of fashion, culture and sex work." In part II, we hear about the laws governing what strippers can and cannot wear, what Jo herself wore in her many roles within the sex industry and her ongoing work as a sex worker act…

Based on her one-woman show, WHat I wORE to Work, this week Jo Weldon joins us for a two-part episode to explore the "intersection of fashion, culture and sex work." From the brothels of Ancient Greece to Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, part I explores sex worker style throughout history and its centuries-long influence…

Amber-Dawn Bear Robe joins us to discuss the Indigenous fashion on view on and off the runway at this year's SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market. More SWAIA Fashion: Website and Instagram Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of our favorite fashion history titles Our Sponsors: * Check…

Innovation and Indigenous fashion have gone hand in hand for time immemorial. From the original "couturiers" of America to those that represent the art form today, we explore the past, present and future of Indigenous design innovation with a compilation of past guest interviews. Guests featured in order of appearance: Christian Allaire joined us i…

We conclude our original four part series on Dressing the Summer Olympic Athlete with a brand new episode celebrating fashion—and fashion history—at this year’s Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (Paris Olympics 2024). Recommended reading: Vogue World Gymnastic Leotards Michel & Amazonka Instagram Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website an…

From Sappho to Stonewall-and-beyond, this week we explore than 2,600 years of lesbian fashion history as Eleanor Medhurst joins us to discuss her recently released book Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 150 of our favorite fashion histor…

This week we celebrate six years and 500 episodes of Dressed with a live, two part podcast event featuring surprise past Dressed guests and our beloved listeners. Past Dressed guests in order of appearance for part II of this episode: From Basic Instinct to Bridgerton, a Conversation with Ellen Mirojnick The Art and Activism of Dress with Michael S…

This week we celebrate six years and 500 episodes of Dressed with a live, two part podcast event featuring surprise past Dressed guests and our beloved listeners. Past Dressed guests in order of appearance: Chicago's Fashionable Past with Jessica Pushor, Part I and Part II Living History: An interview with Cheyney McKnight, Part I and Part II FHN #…

This week, we are joined by theo tyson and Emily Stoehrer, the co-curators of the MFA Boston's current exhibition Dress Up, which celebrates the equally significant role that dress and jewelry play in the deeply personal act and art of dressing up. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with o…

In part II of our episode on The Met's exhibition Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, we chat with Associate Conservator Elizabeth Shaeffer and Collections Specialist Bethany Gingrich about their roles at The Costume Institute and the hidden labor that goes into mounting blockbuster fashion exhibitions. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion…

Andrew Bolton joins us in part I of this two-part episode exploring The Metropolitan Museum of Art's blockbuster exhibition Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. With more than 220 objects--all united under the theme of the natural world--the show seeks to evoke the sensory and ephemeral nature of fashion. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashio…

Historian Amanda Wunder joins us in a two-part episode that illuminates the remarkable life and work of Mateo Aguado, royal court tailor to the Queens of Spain from 1630 to 1672. Aguado is the subject at the heart of her book Spanish Fashion in the Age of Velázquez: A Tailor at the Court of Philip IV. Further learning: Sofía Rodríguez Bernis's arti…

Historian Amanda Wunder joins us in a two-part episode that illuminates the remarkable life and work of Mateo Aguado, royal court tailor to the Queens of Spain from 1630 to 1672. Aguado is the subject at the heart of her book Spanish Fashion in the Age of Velázquez: A Tailor at the Court of Philip IV. Further learning: Sofía Rodríguez Bernis's arti…

Today we explore one of the most fabulous parties New York City has ever seen, Truman Capote's Black and White Ball. Held at The Plaza hotel on November 28, 1966 as a masked fancy dress ball with a strict dress code of black and white, Capote gathered together a global coterie of artists, intellectuals, politicians and the international jet set for…

Penelope Tree, one of the most iconic faces in modeling history, joins us to speak about her recently released novel, Piece of My Heart, a fictionalized account of Tree’s own life, loves and meteoric rise to success as an international It Girl during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes …

Welcome to part 2 of our conversation with embroidery historian Isabella Rosner who joins us to discuss her recently published book/zine Stitching Freedom: Embroidery and Incarceration which explores the embroidery made in prisons and mental health hospitals through the surviving works of twelve individuals. Each of which stand as a testament to th…

Embroidery historian Isabella Rosner joins us to discuss her recently published book/zine Stitching Freedom: Embroidery and Incarceration which explores the embroidery made in prisons and mental health hospitals through the surviving works of twelve individuals who are a testament to the triumphs and sorrows of the human spirit and a reminder of "w…

In this episode we chat about the latest news from Black Barbieland, our thoughts on Bridgerton season 3, an incredible exhibition of textiles woven from Golden Orb Weaving Spider silk threads and the work of Korean artist Choi So Young, who repurposes denim and other garments to create mind-blowing collage works depicting the complex geometries of…

We explore the fasten-ating history of closing clothes through the lens of three of the most familiar fasteners in our wardrobes today: zippers, velcro, and magnets! Additional Resources: Don't Say Velcro! video Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 100 of our favorite fashion histo…

This week we open up our listener mail to discuss affordable options for ethically made garments, recommend some additional fashion history books for kids and chat about some listener requested episodes that are currently in the works. Want more Dressed: The History of Fashion? Our website and classes Our Instagram Our bookshelf with over 140 of ou…