FASHION
BEAUTY
BYLINES
The Goods
The Surprisingly Controversial History of the Midi-Length Skirt
In the early 1970s, women protested the fashion industry for forcing long skirts on them.
A Very Cozy History of the Puffer Coat
There’s a reason why it reminds you of a sleeping bag.
Time
Tights Are Now a Fall Fashion Staple—But They Were Once a Revolutionary Style Statement
When tights first became a wardrobe staple, they signified something that went far beyond a simple change of season: freedom.
Smithsonian Magazine
How 19th-Century Activists Ditched Corsets for One-Piece Long Underwear
Feminists wore longjohns long before Paul Bunyon.
The Week
The Feminist History of the Cardigan
How sloppy sweaters created autonomy.
How the Turtleneck Became a Symbol of Power
It became a symbol of control over one’s body.
InStyle
Your $50 Fleece Might be Worth More than a $700 One
One of the most long-lasting, utilitarian trends out there has gone high fashion. But what do you actually get for the money?
Is the Hemline Index Actually Real?
The 'Hemline Index' says the fluctuating economy influences trends — but that's not the whole story.
Allure
The Origin Story of Why We Call It "Vampy" Beauty
There’s a reason why you feel dangerous slicking on dark lipstick.
Bitch Media
Weapons of Mass Distraction — The Bikini Turned Sexuality into a Threat
The swimsuit was named after the island Bikini Atoll, where the U.S. military performed news-making atomic bomb tests.
Racked
Why Most Men Still Don’t Casually Wear Dresses
In the mainstream, gender-bending still only goes one way.
My Makeup Matters to Women in Prison
“We struggle to just stay human and maintain whatever kind of dignity we can there.”
Department Stores Are Basically the Reason Women Were Allowed in Public
A woman alone in public was taboo, and then came Macy’s.
When Nice Nails Could Change Lives
For immigrants and black women in turn-of-the-century America, well-manicured nails were make or break.
In the Cold War, Makeup Was a Weapon
How red lipstick was part of the US’s arsenal.
What the Civil Rights Movement Has to Do With Denim
The history of blue jeans has been whitewashed.
CNN Style
Why So Many Brides Wear White on Their Wedding Day
The surprising history of the white wedding dress.
A Gift Fit for a King? The Power and Meaning of Royal Wedding Presents
Gifts could make or break international relationships.
Luo Yang's Powerful Female Portraits Challenge Chinese Gender Norms
For Chinese photographer Luo Yang, girlhood has a multitude of meanings.
Plus-size Sculptures Celebrate Marginalized Bodies and Challenge Taboos
Shona McAndrew is presenting plus-size women in a way the mainstream rarely does: as sexual beings at ease in their bodies.
How Frida Kahlo's Fashions Brought Mexican Politics to the World Stage
Frida Kahlo’s style sent a highly political statement of cultural identity, nationalism, and feminism.
Bustle
No one shaved their pits prior to the ‘20s.
The History of Sexy Halloween Costumes, From Crepe Paper to Snapchat Filters
When did costumes start becoming scandalous?
How Listerine is Behind “Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride”
The slogan was made to convince women to buy mouthwash.
The History of the Sports Bra Is Surprisingly Feminist
Women didn’t have any support until the 1970s.
Why a Life Without Immigrants In the U.S. Would Be a Life Without Makeup
Most of the major makeup brands were started by immigrants.
The Super Sneaky History of How Advertisers Convinced You to Buy Deodorant
B.O. wasn’t a big deal until advertisers convinced us otherwise.
L'Oreal's "Because You're Worth It" Origin Story Is Feminist as Hell
I interviewed Ilon Specht, the woman who came up with the slogan.
What Not to Wear: The Strange & Scary History of Women's Dress Codes
It's not only about controlling how the person looks, but also how society sees the person.
6 Trends That Changed the Fashion World for the Better
When fashion was used as a tool to change the social conversation of certain eras.
How Women Have Used Fashion as a Feminist Tool Throughout History
Throughout decades women have used fashion as a tool to force progress.
That bedazzled number might just be your own version of a superstition.
All the Times in History Your Bra Was a Big Freaking Deal
Chests have been terrifying society for centuries on end, mainly because free boobs were usually linked with free women.
Makeup & War Are More Intricately Connected Than You Realized
From the Cold War to world wars, makeup mirrored what women thought their new place in society was.
The 9 Most Famous Beauty Campaigns in History Will Probably Surprise You
Ads have an uncanny way of capturing the ideas of our times, highlighting what we think of beauty, women, and social issues.