logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
11m 43s

A tailored history of who wears what -- ...

TED
About this episode

From puffy trousers to pantsuits and everything in between, law professor and author Richard Thompson Ford takes us on a fascinating tour through the history of fashion and the evolution of dress codes that still influence style today, tracing the real consequences people face for the way they dress. He offers an insightful and eye-opening explanation about why people care so much about what others wear -- and explains why you should think twice before calling the fashion police.

Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Are you spending your money wisely? | Wolfgang Schnellbaecher
Drawing on his experience negotiating million-dollar deals for global brands, procurement expert Wolfgang Schnellbaecher distills the tricks of the world's best buyers into three simple rules to help you make the most of your money.Learn more about our flagship conference happeni ... Show More
11m 3s
Jan 25
Sunday Pick: Unsolicited Advice: How to get your mojo back at work
Are you feeling overwhelmed, uninspired, or burned out at work? In this special Unsolicited Advice episode, Anne and Frances are getting ready for summer by tackling the importance of rest and the power of intention. They offer unexpected tips and tricks for recovering from const ... Show More
37m 14s
Jan 24
How to power the world 24/7 — without oil | Cindy Taff
Deep beneath the Earth sits 50,000 times more energy than all the world's fossil fuel reserves, but accessing it requires using the same controversial technology that oil companies spent trillions to develop: fracking. Cindy Taff left Shell to prove that drilling for geothermal h ... Show More
10m 57s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
fashion history, a talk with richard thompson ford [video]
[video available on spotify] i love fashion but i wouldn't consider myself a fashion nerd. i'm not super educated on the history of fashion and so that’s why i'm excited to speak to richard thompson ford. he’s a stanford law professor and fashion history expert. richard’s also th ... Show More
48m 42s
Dec 2022
Ep.7: The Three-Piece Suit
Jacket, waistcoat and trousers: these are the three pieces that make up the suit. Isabella Rossellini guides us to discover its history and its dual nature, because, today, it is worn by both men and women. Guido Bonsaver, a professor at the University of Oxford, tells how this l ... Show More
24m 8s
Jul 2023
Fashion
<p>Tweed suits, penny loafers: who said philosophers were out of touch? In episode 81 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk everything from Shein to Ferragamo, from high school lunchbox trends to Machiavelli’s nightgowns. As they chart the history of clothing, and the shift from fun ... Show More
53m 23s
Mar 2024
Avery Trufelman on the Meaning Behind the Clothes We Wear
<p> On her award-winning podcast “Articles of Interest,” host and producer Avery Trufelman dives deep into the stories behind the clothes we wear. From the evolution of prep to the origins of wedding dresses, Avery guides her listeners through the multi-faceted layers behind the ... Show More
41m 21s
May 2018
Fashion
The annual Met Gala - which takes place in New York tonight - is often described as "fashion's biggest night out". It is a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art that welcomes celebrities from all walks of life and fashion industry paragons alike. It also signifies ... Show More
27m 14s
Jun 2024
459. The Suit, Savile Row, and Smartly Dressed Men
"His clothes seemed to melt into each other with the perfection of their cut and the quiet harmony of their colour. Without a single point of emphasis, everything was distinguished" The suit has long served as the official attire of men in Britain, Europe and the Western World. T ... Show More
58m 34s
Jan 2024
Breeching: A Weird Historical Obsession with Children's Pants
Have you ever looked at a childhood photo of a noted historical dude and thought -- huh, why did his folks put him in a dress? If so, you're seeing evidence of a strange parenting practice of yesteryear... the phenomenon known as breeching. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max e ... Show More
40m 56s
Dec 2023
Dressed Classic: Remaking Fashion History: An Interview with John Bright
This week we revisit our interview with Academy Award-winning costume designer John Bright to discuss his prolific film and television career spanning five decades. A collector of historic fashion, John is also the founder and owner of the world&#39;s leading costume house Cospro ... Show More
46m 11s
Dec 2018
6. Punk Style
<p>There is this myth that it’s frivolous or unproductive to care about how you look. Clothing and fashion get trivialized a lot. But think about who get associated with clothing and fashion: young people, women, queers and people of color — groups of people who historically have ... Show More
30m 48s