Today brings up the last roundup post of 2021! Although today is in fact Thursday and not Friday, these are my top 5 Style File Friday posts of 2021. Unsurprisingly, these are some of the most popular posts on my blog (and continue to be for years); I mostly focus on fashion history, and it is only becoming more and more popular. They can be a bit difficult to write and source- finding verifiable sources and open-license images can be tricky, but I think that it worth it. Fashion history and related subjects have been pushed aside for decades, and they deserve their moment in the spotlight!
1) Style History: Ann Lowe
I fully admit, this post was long overdue, and I’ve heard from many of you about it since! (I am thrilled that more people know Ann’s name now.) Lowe was one of the first prominent African-American designers, and even designed Jackie Kennedy’s first wedding dress, though was not given credit for it. My Style History posts are a lot of fun to write, and I’ve learned a lot with each of them. However, I will say that I absolutely learned the most about Lowe. There are many designers that have never been given the attention they deserve, and that should be rectified! (Also, her embroidery work is incredible and I could spend hours looking at it.
2) The Best Fashion Documentaries to Watch After Halston
Well, Halston is one of the Netflix shows that won 2021, and it is well-deserved. The entire cast did an incredible job portraying the late American designer’s life during the hectic and busy 1970s and 1980s, not mention recreating so many iconic Halston looks. This is one of those shows that peaks your interest in fashion history in general, and makes you ask a lot of questions about what was going on in this period. (A lot. The answer to those questions is a lot was going on.) I’ve gathered a list of my favourite fashion history documentaries covering the last fifty years if you want your fashion history fix!
3) Where to Find Online Fashion History Talks
I’ve said it 1.2 million times on the blog and I will say it again here- while I know that a lot of people prefer to attend talks and visit museums in person, many of us can’t. Some of us don’t live or can’t visit where they are held, others can’t go for accessibility issues, and even finances can hold us back. So, I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to find the best sources for online fashion history talks that you can enjoy from nearly anywhere in the world. Some of them do have a small fee, but I’ve tried to include as many free options as I can!
4) How History Has Influenced My Wardrobe
Most of my Style File Friday posts these days are fashion history posts. However, when the blog first started, they actually focused on my own wardrobe and beauty routines/favourites. I find the fashion history posts more interesting to work on, but occasionally I do like to write a post on my wardrobe. This post focuses on how I integrate fashion history (and history in general) into my own wardrobe, and how I look at clothing in general. Some of it may surprise you, but it is the truth of my closet!
5) Royal Fashion at Kensington Palace
With photos from the wonderful The Lady and The Rose, I did a bit of retrospective on one of my favourite fashion exhibitions at Kensington Palace, Fashion Rules. Staged in the summer of 2013, it was the first true fashion history exhibition I saw (and happened to be at my favourite historic site). There is nothing like seeing your first Norman Hartnell pieces in person, and the HRP team did an amazing job with the staging. And at a time when royal fashion is still largely limited due to online engagements, there is nothing like looking back through royal fashion from the golden age of fashion in Britain!
What are your top 5 Style File Friday posts of 2021?
Cheers,
The Historian
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