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The Story Behind Banksy

On his way to becoming an international icon, the subversive and secretive street artist turned the art world upside-down

Origami: A Blend of Sculpture and Mathematics

Artist and MIT professor Erik Demaine makes flat geometric diagrams spring into elegant, three-dimensional origami sculptures

An Illustrated Guide to the World’s Creation Myths

Each culture has its own version of how the universe began. Artist Noah MacMillan brings this “visual vocabulary” to life

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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

Page 1 of 8

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

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

How One Museum Looks to Combat Ageism

A new exhibit in Israel educates kids that being old shouldn’t translate to being sidelined
January 2013 | By Shoshana Kordova

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

Dress Codes and Etiquette, Part 3: The Death of the Dinner Jacket on Open Water

Are the days of wearing just a tuxedo t-shirt just over the horizon?
December 03, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

A Holiday Shopping Reminder: Do We Really Need That Extra Pair of Jeans?

Meaningful purchases trump frenetic shopping and closets bulging with new clothes
November 29, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Giving Thanks to Clothes That Stretch

Seeking comfort, holiday diners will don elastic to indulge their expanding waistlines. They should thank Thomas Hancock and his "masticator"
November 19, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Penn Jillette Reveals the Secrets of Fire-Eating

The more talkative half of the famed magic duo says that even for professionals, this magic act is a tough act to swallow
December 2012 | By Penn Jillette

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
November 16, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

5 Essential James Bond Accessories

The stylish spy wore a Rolex and sunglasses that you can't buy on Black Friday on any other day
November 09, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Favorites From the Cooper-Hewitt’s New Online Collection

The museum's clothing and textiles are unwrapped for view as never before
November 06, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Incredible Political Fashion Statements From Past Elections

Forget buttons and T-shirts. Check out these mini dresses, bell bottoms and digital watches from old campaign trails
November 01, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

12 Creepy Kids in Halloween Masks

When their faces are obscured, these children transform into frightening little creatures
October 29, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

The Witches of Halloween Past

Sexy or scary, the outfit has cast a spell on costume wearers going back many years
October 26, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Dress Codes and Etiquette, Part 2: Diana Vreeland vs. Emily Post on Vulgarity

How much drama is too much? These two famous women, who wielded power over how we dress, could have debated the subject
October 23, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

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
October 19, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Dress Codes and Etiquette, Part 1: What Not to Wear to High School in the 1960s

Before the Age of Aquarius, there was the age of administrators and their button-down rules about students' wardrobes
October 15, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

Stocking Series, Part 4: The Rebellious Roll Garters

Wearing rolled stocking back then must have been akin to the liberating, punk rock feeling of wearing ripped fishnets today
October 12, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

This 105-Year-Old Made Marilyn Monroe’s Earrings

Meet Sadie Mintz, a jewelry maker who saw her handiwork on the cover of LIFE magazine
October 09, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

As a Matter of Fact: Jockeys, Tartans and Cowboy Glam

The real stories behind some fashion fads and classics hold some surprising twists
October 05, 2012 | By Emily Spivack

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