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The Long Journey of Chief Joseph’s War Shirt
Chief Joseph painting by Cyrenius Hall at the National Portrait Gallery. You know Chief Joseph, even if you don’t know him by name. He’s not Sitting Bull, or Geronimo, but you probably recognize Chief...
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When LBJ Ordered Pants From the White House
A president’s legacy includes his landmark legislation (or lack thereof), his Supreme Court nominees, his wars begun or ended—and, of course, a commemorative library with the papers, effects and...
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Packing List Series, Part 2: An Artist’s Illustrated Guide
Adolf Konrad’s sketched packing list, December 16, 1963. When German-born but New Jersey-bred artist Adolf Konrad (1915-2003) traveled through Rome and Egypt in 1962 and 1963, he made himself a visual...
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The Swimsuit Series, Part 5: Olympic Athletes, Posing
Mark Spitz, 1972. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, by unidentified artist. A few years before Farrah Fawcett donned her red bathing suit, seven-time gold medalist Mark Spitz wore...
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What Did Playtex Have to Do With Neil Armstrong?
Pressure suit, A7-L worn by Armstrong. Materials for the overalls include beta cloth, rubber, nylon, plastic connectors, aluminum neck ring, aluminum wrist locking rings, aluminum zipper and brass...
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The Swimsuit Series, Part 6: Ladies in Wading in Art
Swim Before Dark, 1978, by Helen Miranda Wilson As Labor Day approaches and summer sadly draws to a close, Threaded’s Swimsuit Series nears its end. But before we pack up our beach towels and boogie...
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Stocking Series, Part 1: Wartime Rationing and Nylon Riots
Women making hosiery at Minnesac Mills, Philadelphia. (Photo by Lewis Hine, 1936-37.) Women want men, career, money, children, friends, luxury, comfort, independence, freedom, respect, love and cheap...
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Stockings Series, Part 2: Paint-on Hosiery During the War Years
With nylon or silk hose hard to come by, women had the look of stockings brushed on their legs. So it’s Saturday night in 1941, and you want to wear stockings with your cocktail dress, but the new...
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Stockings Series, Part 3: Ads from the Archives, 1890-1939
An 1891 Ivory ad blamed the wrong brand of soap for ruining stockings. “Just see, father, how this stocking is ruined, and I’ve only worn it once. I though it was because Jane had rubbed it too...
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Dress Codes and Etiquette, Part 2: Diana Vreeland vs. Emily Post on Vulgarity
Emily Post (left): Photo by Philippe Halsman, 1946, National Portrait Gallery. Diana Vreeland (right): Drawing by Richard Ely, 1989, National Portrait Gallery. This weekend, I saw the documentary, The...
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Favorites From the Cooper-Hewitt’s New Online Collection
Matchbook in the shape of a folded men’s shirt, with incised checkerboard-patterned weave, cuffs and bib, smiling child’s head peering out from opening at collar. Reverse inscribed “New York Clothing...
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The Legend of the Christmas Stocking
Christmas stockings made by a “Gentleman of German heritage,” 1950s. “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” – A Visit From Saint Nicholas...
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A History of Sequins from King Tut to the King of Pop
What do Michael Jackson, King Tut and Leonardo da Vinci have in common? A penchant for sequins. At some point between 1480 and 1482, Leonardo whipped together a sketch for a machine that, using levers...
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A Refreshing Take on Fashion Television: A Q&A with L.A. Frock Stars’ Star...
The Way We Wore team, from left, Jascmeen Bush, Shelly Lyn, owner Doris Raymond, Sarah Bergman, Kyle Blackmon (c) NHNZ If your wardrobe is seriously lacking the next time you have a red carpet event...
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The Story of Elizabeth Keckley, Former-Slave-Turned-Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker
Mary T. & Lizzy K. runs through May 5, 2013, at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Illustration by Jody Hewgill. Elizabeth Keckley was born into slavery in 1818 in Virginia....
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