Seersucker has its roots in the Middle East and gained popularity among English gentlemen who lived or traveled in hot climates, such as India, during the British Colonial era. The fabric made its way to the United States as early as the Civil War period, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that it became […]
Feed sack dresses, also known as flour sack dresses, are a fascinating part of American history, especially during the Great Depression and World War II. These garments reflect the resourcefulness and creativity of people during challenging times. Origins and Development Early Use of Feed Sacks: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, goods such […]
Originally, leg warmers were used as athletic wear to keep athletes’ muscles warm, preventing injuries and cramps during practice and performance. They became particularly popular among dancers for this reason. However, in the 1980s, leg warmers transitioned from a practical piece of athletic gear to a major fashion trend. This shift was largely influenced by […]
Overalls (or dungarees) originated in the 17th century. When they arrived in India, the English appropriated a cloth called “Dungri” and used it to make workwear trousers, or ‘dungarees.’ Later, Levi Strauss added a bib to workwear trousers, creating overalls. Originally, these garments were for workers and were often color-coded depending on their profession. However, […]
The mermaid dress has its roots in the late 1800s. At the time, fashion was transitioning from maximum width to maximum narrowness, and women wore corsets that embraced the hips and the backs of the legs. In the 1880s, magazines began promoting suits with puffed flanks that created a silhouette with a pronounced waist and […]
Tea dresses were a mainstay of the 1930s and featured a natural waistline (in contrast to drop-waist flapper dresses of the previous decade). Tea dresses were often bias-cut with modest necklines and flowing skirts that ended between the knee and calf. These midi-length dresses were so named because they were often worn to tea or […]
In the United States, tie-dye is most closely associated with 1960s counterculture, but it’s actually much older than that. For thousands of years, many cultures around the world have made use of tie-dye. The practice seems to have originated independently in each area, resulting in regionally specific styles, and spread even further via trade routes. […]
The button fly can be traced all the way back to the original pair of Levi’s 501 jeans, which were created on May 20, 1873. (That’s 20 years before the zipper was conceived and nearly a half-century before the zipper as we know it today was invented!) In 1947, Levi’s added a zipper fly to […]
Cable knit sweaters were most likely created by a group of Aran women as an export in the early 1900s and are fittingly still associated with Irish culture today. Notably, the cable design also appeared on the Gansey sweater worn by fishermen on England’s eastern coast during the Victorian era. Both versions were infinitely practical, […]
These iconic bracelets got their start in 1966, when Tiffany & Co. first began to sell key tags with the now-iconic phrase, “Please Return to Tiffany & Co. New York” written on them. Each key tag was given a unique number, ensuring that if someone’s keys were returned to Tiffany’s, their owner could be found. […]