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Editors' Picks

A History of Sequins from King Tut to the King of Pop

As you don your sparkly holiday fashions, think of the trend's start in an Egyptian tomb

James Bond’s Dapper Dinner Jackets

With their origins at a London bespoke tailor, the suits of 007 are sharp—almost as sharp as a dagger shoe

Taking a Closer Look at an Odd Pair of Very, Very Old Socks

With their divided toes and extreme length, these red knit wonders from an excavated Egyptian site have an otherworldly quality

Arts & Culture Beats

The Best of Design, Cooper-Hewitt Announces 2013 Award Winners

From a Las Vegas Denny's with a wedding chapel to rock 'n' roll posters, this year's design award winners have a good time with great design
May 09, 2013 | By Leah Binkovitz

Page 1 of 2

For Perusing Pleasure, Zandra Rhodes’ New Online Fashion Archive

The honored Brit—50 years in the business—goes for the bold in her designer collections
May 02, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The Story of Elizabeth Keckley, Former-Slave-Turned-Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker

A talented seamstress and savvy businesswoman, she catered to Washington's socialites
April 24, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

‘I Remember’: An Artist’s Chronicle of What We Wore

In the 1970s, Joe Brainard wrote a book-length poem that paid heed to fashion
April 16, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The History of the Flapper, Part 5: Who Was Behind the Fashions?

Sears styles sprung from the ideas of European artists and couturiers
April 05, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

Lilly Pulitzer: Remembering the ‘Queen of Prep’

Her tropical slashes of color enlivened the old-money crowd
April 09, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

When The Gap Was Everywhere

Through staged fashion shoots, an artists' collective critiqued the ascendant sportswear retailer
April 11, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

Miss Piggy, My Feather Boa and A Moment to Consider Makeup’s Greasy Past

No Fools Need Apply to the Smithsonian's Curatorial Conference On Stuff, A Sometimes Annual Scholarly Gathering on a Subject Rarely Considered
April 05, 2013 | By Amy Henderson

Sagging Pants Butt Up Against the Law

Yet the droopy trousers trend lives on
April 01, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

A Refreshing Take on Fashion Television: A Q&A with L.A. Frock Stars’ Star Doris Raymond

A new series brings high-end style to vintage wear
March 22, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

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The Aughts: When People Wore Their Causes on Their Sleeves, Literally

It was a decade of Uggs and excess but also styles meant to further the greater good
March 06, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

Winged Migration: The 77-Carat Butterfly Brooch That “Glows” in the Dark

The piece by Taiwanese artist Cindy Chao has a surprise revealed only under ultraviolet light
March 05, 2013 | By Leah Binkovitz

The History of the Flapper, Part 4: Emboldened by the Bob

New short haircuts announced the wearers' break from tradition and boosted the hairdressing industry
February 26, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The History of the Flapper, Part 3: The Rectangular Silhouette

Finally, women could breathe deeply when the waist-nipping corset went out of style
February 19, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The Origins of Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve

Valentine's Day can be an occasion for quirky expressions of love
February 14, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The Masked Merriment of Mardi Gras

For centuries, the day's revelry has featured the liberated feeling of hiding in plain view
February 12, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The History of the Flapper, Part 2: Makeup Makes a Bold Entrance

It's the birth of the modern cosmetics business as young women look for beauty enhancers in a tube or jar
February 07, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

The History of the Flapper, Part 1: A Call for Freedom

The young, fashionable women of the 1920s define the dress and style of their peers in their own words
February 05, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

Why Hypercolor T-Shirts Were Just a One-Hit Wonder

Heat-sensitive color made this sportswear a hot item—but it didn't last
January 22, 2013 | By Emily Spivack

Jicky, the First Modern Perfume

Jicky is the first fragrance to incorporate both synthetic ingredients and natural extracts, making it one of the most significant perfumes in the history of scent design
January 17, 2013 | By Jimmy Stamp

A History of Sequins from King Tut to the King of Pop

As you don your sparkly holiday fashions, think of the trend's start in an Egyptian tomb
December 28, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

The Legend of the Christmas Stocking

What's behind the holiday tradition of hanging hosiery on the fireplace?
December 14, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Your Guide to Selecting the Best (or Is It Worst?) Ugly Christmas Sweater

Holiday cheer with a touch of nostalgia celebrates garish knitwear from the 1940s to '80s
December 11, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

The Best in Fashion History: Penny Loafers, Forgotten Suitcases and Hermès Scarves

Three good reads to accessorize your daily routine
December 06, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

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