History of Fashion

Victor Costa next to a mannequin. Courtesy of HistoricImages
Victor Costa Sartorial Saboteur
Long before fast-fashion became a dirty word, the "knock-off" was a prestigious rite of passage. We find it deliciously ironic that the foundations of American style were built on the... Read more...
The Body is Dead; Long Live the Form
The Body is Dead; Long Live the Form
The new status symbol is volume. The luxury of taking up space without revealing what lies beneath. It says, "My intellect is vast, my taste is impeccable, and my body... Read more...
The Mystery of Laurence
The Mystery of Laurence
One of the most interesting patterns of the 80s garments, besides the shoulder pads and the neon blazers, were the bugle beaded sequin dresses, with intricate and, in some cases... Read more...
C stands for woman with Class
C stands for woman with Class
Carolina created a style that read sophistication and glamour while keeping her pieces and silhouettes simple and streamlined.  Read more...
Not so Forgotten Designers / Joseph Abboud
Not so Forgotten Designers / Joseph Abboud
Abboud, of Lebanese descent, came to fashion with a very strong background on merchandising and sales. He spent 12 years buying at the Louis of Boston, where he went to work during... Read more...
Leslie Fay Designer Brand
Leslie Fay Designer Brand
Leslie Fay was the clothing business founded by Fred Pomerantz. In 1942, Fred Pomerantz began making uniforms for the women in the US armed services. The government had done a study... Read more...
Byblos Designer Brand
The Swinger International group acquired Byblos in 2002; it has integrated the brand’s experimentation Read more...
Mario Maraolo, shoe designer
Mario Maraolo, shoe designer
In 1938 Domenico Maraolo founder Mamar. A shoe design company. His son Mario Maraolo started designing for Mamar around 1956-1969 and became Maraolo designs. He was very popular in the... Read more...