The stories behind what we wear

The trench coat was designed for British officers in the First World War. Blue jeans were riveted together for Gold Rush miners. The little black dress rescued the color of mourning and made it powerful. Behind almost every garment in your closet stands a story about money, class, and survival.

Dressed in History publishes one of those stories every day. Some are famous. Most have been forgotten. All of them explain a little about why we dress the way we do.

Our approach

Most fashion coverage chases what is new. We are interested in what lasted. Every story here is built on the record — who made a garment, who wore it first, and what it said about the world at the time.

Have a story tip or a garment you think deserves its own article? Write to us — we read everything.