7. A Fantasy of Fashion

7. A Fantasy of Fashion

Author: Avery Trufelman June 23, 2020 Duration: 39:52

In the wake of World War II, the government of France commissioned its most prominent designers to create a collection of miniature fashion dolls. It might seem like an odd thing to fund, but the fantasy of high fashion inspired hope in postwar Paris. These dolls also forever changed the curator who discovered them almost 40 years later, in a strange museum perched on a cliff in rural Washington state.

Articles of Interest is a limited-run podcast series about fashion, housed inside the design and architecture podcast 99% Invisible. Launched in 2018 by Avery Trufelman, the show encourages people to rethink the way we look at what we wear and what it says about us.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Avery Trufelman’s Articles of Interest digs into the often overlooked stories stitched into the fabric of our daily lives. This isn't just a fashion podcast in the conventional sense; it’s a deep, curious exploration of why we wear what we wear, treating clothing as a tangible record of culture, labor, identity, and even rebellion. Each episode feels like unfolding a carefully preserved garment from a trunk, revealing the hidden histories and complex meanings in everything from blue jeans and pockets to specific uniforms and forgotten trends. Trufelman’s approach is both personal and rigorously researched, blending narrative storytelling with insightful interviews. Listeners hear the rustle of taffeta and the hum of sewing machines, but also the voices of designers, historians, and everyday people, all piecing together how our wardrobe choices reflect deeper societal shifts. The series, nestled within the broader Arts and Beauty landscape, redefines these categories by arguing that what we put on our bodies is one of our most intimate forms of expression and communication. Tune in for a thoughtful, beautifully produced journey that will change the way you look at your own closet and the world walking past you on the street.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 60

Articles of Interest
Podcast Episodes
Gear: Chapter 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:14
The end of the draft leads to the yuppification of the field jacket. Images links and more at articlesofinterest.substack.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Gear: Chapter 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
The outdoors is no longer for macho men. In fact, now it's for babies. Images, links, and more information at articlesofinterest.substack.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Gear: Chapter 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:04
Gear gets defined by scientific testing and research. And this process was pioneered with the development of the field jacket. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Gear: Chapter 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:48
Almost all clothes have something to do with the military. But one industry in particular has a lot to do with the military. The first episode of the new season establishes how the American military came to be, and how t…
Gear: Prologue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:56
The next series from Articles of Interest Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Zippers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:52
Zippers are the most common machine all around us. But it's a minor miracle how that came to be. Pictures of early zippers and other links at articlesofinterest.substack.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/…
Sunglasses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:26
A fashion accessory turns into a medical necessity. Images and links at articlesofinterest.substack.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
School Uniforms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
How uniforms shaped the American school system. Images and a very special animation at articlesofinterest.substack.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
The Memory Palace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:35
Nate Dimeo is a longtime radio hero of mine. And praises be, now he has a book out of his stories, called The Memory Palace: True Short Stories of The Past. Enjoy this sampler of his audiobook and a favorite episode of m…
Clergy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:48
What Catholic priests wear, and the insight it provides into what we laypeople wear. For images of what vestments look like and more, go to articlesofinterest.substack.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad…