Hello hello, dear fashionable listeners! I’m here today, back chatting about podcasts again. After over a decade of dedicated listening to podcasts, I’ve got more than a firm grip on what I look for in a podcast. And I admit, I will listen to a podcast covering just about anything. However, as you can guess from the title, this post is all about the best fashion history podcasts. It isn’t a particularly large niche of podcasts, but there are some true gems. Grab your phone and your headphones, your podcast app, and get to listening to the top 5 fashion history podcasts in 2020!
Podcasting has really arrived as a thing. I would say it is approaching the saturation mark, and that much like blogging, it has become very accessible. I don’t think it is a bad thing in the least, but that it probably isn’t a money making venture for most podcasters. I’m slightly hesitant to listen to brand new podcasts, only because I really enjoy it and then they suddenly stop producing episodes with no warning. As a result, I’ve started looking for institutionally based podcasts, and I’ve discovered some fantastic fashion history options. Here is where I’ve got to give a massive thank you to all of the fashion history museums giving us podcasts! So, without further adieu, here are my top 5 fashion history podcasts in 2020.
Dressed: A History of Fashion
I recommended Dressed when I shared the most interesting style podcasts, but it absolutely needed to be included on this list. Cassidy Zachary, fashion historian and TV costumer, and April Callahan, fashion historian and Special Collections Associate and Curator of Manuscript Collections at FIT, host Dressed, an in-depth look at fashion history. They cover specific designers, exhibitions, broader trends, questions, beauty, mysteries, and more.
While both Cassidy and April are brilliant historians in their own right, I love that they bring in other fashion historians to interview. Not only do you learn more about the topic in question, you are also discovering more historians! (And the historian in question is usually tied to a book or an exhibition, which is a lovely circular way to keep up with the fashion history world.)
Can’t Miss Episodes: Queen Alexandra, Behind the Seams with Kate Strasdin and Balenciaga: The Master of Us All, an interview with Miren Arzalluz!
The Museum at FIT Fashion Culture Podcast
This is another one of my favourite podcasts. The Fashion Institute of Technology is world-renowned institution, and they have an incredible dedication to fashion history. Dr. Valerie Steele, world renowned fashion historian and chief curator of FIT, hosts many of the episodes. This podcast balances traditional fashion history with the museum/curation side of things. FIT also hosts many talks and conferences, and they will often share panels and presentations. My only (small) qualm is that some episodes are quite short (under 15 minutes), but it is still one of the strongest podcasts out there. Also, from an accessibility standpoint, almost all of the episodes have a transcript or a video with subtitles!
Can’t Miss Episodes: From the Splendor of the Royal Court to the Spectacle of Haute Couture and Norell: Master of American Fashion!
Fashion History with American Duchess
This is a newer podcast for me, but it may not be for others. If you are interested in historical costuming and recreation, you are probably quite familiar with American Duchess. Abby Cox and Lauren Stowell run American Duchess, a company that sells historically accurate shoes, and also have a podcast now. I’m not overly interested in recreating period clothing myself so I don’t listen to every single episode, but it is a goldmine if you are! And they cover a wide variety of fashion history topics, for the listeners like me.
They tend to focus on the technical aspects of fashion history, which is not a bad thing in the least. Many of us love looking at these historic garments but don’t know what went into making them. It is fantastic to finally have more of a background into those aspects! The sound quality isn’t always 100%, but it is still fun to listen to, nevertheless.
Can’t Miss Episodes: 18th Century Dress Alterations with Carolyn Dowdell and Interview with TV/Film/Theatre Costumer Constance MacKenzie!
Historic Royal Palaces Podcast
The Historic Royal Palaces Podcast isn’t specifically a fashion history podcast, but it makes frequent appearances. In case you are new to the blog, Historic Royal Palaces is the organisation that runs Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, and Hillsborough Castle. This podcast is shared talks that were given at the different palaces, from the past 10 years or so. And as you might expect, Kensington Palace has played host to many a fashion history talk. (Kensington often has a modern royal fashion history exhibition, like Fashion Rules, and is home to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.) And although it does skew towards modern fashion history, there are a few talks that look at Tudor and Georgian fashion history, as well. One downfall: HRP did remove all of their podcasts in the fall and then began reposting them. If you want to use them for research, I would download and save them!
Can’t Miss Episodes: Make-Up and Monarchy and Royal Women and Power Dressing!
Bande à Part
This is a recent discovery of mine in the last few months, and it has quickly become another favourite. Bande à Part is an informal, discussion style podcast between Rebecca Arnold, from the Courtauld Institute of Art, and Beatrice Behlen, from the Museum of London. They give you insights into what they and their colleagues are working on. Unlike most other fashion podcasts, these episodes tend not to be connected to a specific exhibition or book, because it is what they are working on. It is a strength, though; you end up being exposed to topics that you might not otherwise have been. (While I love listening to another about Dior as you know, I think that anyone paying the slightest attention to fashion history in the last three years is more than familiar with Dior.)
And because it is informal, you get a much better idea of how fashion historians work, and the trains of thought and research that they have. I admit, although formally produced podcasts are wonderful to listen to, there is something quite lovely about listening to an informal conversation.
Can’t Miss Episodes: Love, Cecil and Society Ladies and Illustrators!
What are your top 5 fashion history podcasts of 2020?
Cheers,
The Historian
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