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Description
Living in a globalized, multicultural world, people often don't realize the ethnic origins of everyday clothes. Pajamas borrowed their name from the Hindi word for pants, and tie-dye techniques were imported from the East. Many ethnic designs have blended seamlessly into our daily wardrobe, while others are worn to set us apart and show pride in our heritage.
Description
The torturous waist-shaping corset of the Victorian era ... The bright green eye shadow of the '70s ... Prompted both by fashion trends and by cultural norms, women tend to adopt the prescribed beauty ideals of their times. The 20th century saw milestone achievements in beauty culture - from the first plastic surgeries in the '20s, to the portable metal lipstick container, to the aerobics craze of the '80s. This episode is about changing looks and...
Description
The hat maker and the hair stylist have always had a volatile relationship when it comes adorning the head. Thanks to long manes and complicated hairspray styles in the '60s, the stylist has won - at least for now. This episode examines the long and fascinating history of the hat maker's trade.
4) Knit wit
Description
Nowadays mostly reserved for scarves and sweaters, knitted wool was once used for everything that needed to be soft and stretchy: a baby's layette, sports clothing, and even bathing suits. Knitwear was more than just a fabric; in the first half of the 20th century, it came to stand for a new way of life: more leisure, less formality, and - most of all - comfort.
5) A leg up
Description
Stockings have been held in place by thigh garters and corselettes. They were imitated with leg make-up during World War II. And all along they have aggravated us with runs and crooked seams! Whether hidden under Victorian dresses or exposed by the mini-skirt, stockings cling to fashion trends and make women's legs look oh-so-sexy ...
Description
Two centuries ago, it was the upper-class lady's job to dress in masses of silk and velvet in order to display her husband's wealth. We've come a long way for a woman to be able to appear, unescorted, in a short, black cocktail dress. Evening wear has always been the fashion designer's favorite playground - from the short and transparent flapper dress to the glittery pantsuit for flower children out on the town ...
Description
Boots can be so much more than the classic, utilitarian rubber model. In fact, ankle boots were once the required footwear for a decent lady. It helped her long skirts conceal her ankles. As hemlines moved up, shoes also began to reveal more foot. But boots kept coming back; from sexy stiletto bootees to provocative knee-highs, they have straddled fashion and functionality across the 20th century.
Description
Although today it's considered rather conservative, the suit for women was once a revolution in the world of female fashions. It introduced comfort into a wardrobe once dominated by corsets and crinolines ... It became the ideal multifunctional outfit for every occasion ... And it was immortalized by Coco Chanel. Worn by the imitable Jackie Kennedy and the '80s superwoman, the suit is here to stay.
Description
Upper-class Victorian women carried the tiniest and most impractical bags because they had servants to carry their things. Then came the emancipated woman, who didn't count on an escort to tote around her essentials. Today, handbags and purses come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate a woman's storage needs - as well as her sense of style. Whether it's a classic Hermès or a favorite old backpack, it's all part of a woman's personal statement....
Description
Something old, something new: possibly the most revered garment in a woman's wardrobe, the wedding dress, is seen in a new light. This episode shows how white came to be standard for the wedding dress, how royals have inspired thousands of brides - even before Princess Diana - and how veil and dress lengths have fluctuated with the styles and trends of the times.
Description
Twelve inches off the ground, according to Christian Dior; exactly at the knee, according to Coco Chanel; as short as possible, according to Mary Quant. It is time to ask the question: is the prevailing skirt length of the time inversely proportional to the state of women's emancipation? The answer may surprise you!
Description
From the whalebone corset to the push-up bra, foundation garments have shaped fashion throughout the 20th century. The corset that had so restricted women was finally swept out, along with Victorian morals, after World War I. The brassiere was hailed in the '20s and burned in the '70s. Whether pointed in the '50s or padded in the '90s, it is an architectural masterpiece - and still has to be assembled by hand.
Description
Fur is a necessity in Alaska and a luxury item in New York City. A king's ermine signifies power, while a 1930s movie star, dripping in white fox, exudes sex appeal. Yet ever since the '60s, fur lovers have found themselves in the crossfire of a heated debate over animal rights. The history of fur is about much more than just fashion ...
14) Making waves
Description
In the early 1900s, women actually wore a bathing dress to the beach. Since then, the evolution of the bathing suit has chronicled changing morals in the 20th century. Patented just days after the first atomic bomb tests on Bikini Island, the revealing garment with the same name became the first of a series of scandals in swimwear, which include the topless bathing suit and the thong bikini.
15) Rain or shine
Description
At the turn of the 20th century, women never left the house without a dainty umbrella or parasol to protect their skin against the sun. As tanned skin became fashionable, the umbrella's main purpose shifted to shield against the rain. Today, we only carry one when we have to, and an umbrella is considered a burden rather than a chic accessory.
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