Designers

The Story Behind the Lacoste Crocodile Shirt

A 1920s French tennis star put the little reptilian logo onto a white polo shirt

June 4, 2013

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 2, 2013

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

When The Gap Was Everywhere

Through staged fashion shoots, an artists’ collective critiqued the ascendant sportswear retailer

April 11, 2013

Lilly Pulitzer: Remembering the ‘Queen of Prep’

Her tropical slashes of color enlivened the old-money crowd

April 9, 2013

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

Sears styles sprung from the ideas of European artists and couturiers

April 5, 2013

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

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 6, 2013

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

Three good reads to accessorize your daily routine

December 6, 2012

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

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

Antonio’s World: The Life and Work of a Celebrated Fashion Illustrator

Antonio Lopez’s electrifying art defined the style of the times, 1960s-‘80s. Now, a gallery show and book call renewed attention to his accomplishments

October 2, 2012

Yayoi Kusama, High Priestess of Polka Dots

The avant-garde Japanese artist attains retrospective status—and embarks on a fashion collaboration with Louis Vuitton

September 28, 2012

Making Objects: A Dispatch From the Future of Small-Batch Manufacturing

A pair of young design entrepreneurs are building a small-batch manufacturing company in Chicago

September 27, 2012

Honoring Bill Moggridge

From designing the first laptop to defining human-computer interaction, Bill Moggridge spent his career breaking new ground in design and technology

September 10, 2012

New York Fashion Week, Past and Present

Since the mid-1940s, models of perfection in designer clothes have graced Manhattan runways every autumn

September 7, 2012

Top 10 Chanelisms: Coco’s Wise Words to Mark Her Birthday

Today the French fashion designer’s observations seem wise, clever or amusingly dated

August 20, 2012

Through the Lens of Cosmo Covers: Remembering Helen Gurley Brown

With her magazine, the longtime editor sold sex as well as the latest, often provocative fashions

August 17, 2012

Q&A: Jayson Musson Breaks Down Coogi Sweaters

With the ‘80s and ‘90s status-symbol clothing a bargain on eBay, the Brooklyn artist buys, disassembles and reconstructs them to make abstract “paintings”

August 13, 2012

Remembering Bloomingdale’s Chairman, the Dearly Departed Martin Traub, 1925-2012

The department store chain’s visionary executive beat the competition in exotic fashion flair

July 13, 2012