American Ivy: Chapter 7

American Ivy: Chapter 7

Author: Avery Trufelman December 7, 2022 Duration: 39:04
I have a confession to make. To see images, notes and full transcripts, go to articlesofinterest.substack.com Articles of Interest is made by Avery Trufelman Edited by Kelly Prime Mixed and Mastered by Ian Coss Album art by Helen Shewolfe Tseng and photography by Matty Lynn Barnes Theme songs are by Sasami, with additional music from Rhae Royal Proud member of Radiotopia!

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: en-us Episodes: 63

Articles of Interest
Podcast Episodes
11. Diamonds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:16
Diamonds represent value, in all its multiple meanings: values, as in ethics, and value as in actual price. But what are these rocks actually worth? The ethics and costs of diamond rings have shifted with society, from t…
10. Suits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:25
Menswear can seem boring. If you look at any award show, most of the men are dressed in black pants and black jackets. This uniform design can be traced back to American Revolution, classical statuary, and one particular…
9. Perfume [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
The world of high end perfume is surprisingly lucrative, considering that scent is often the most ignored of our senses. But one can't judge a scent solely by the brand and shape of the bottle. With the right amount of a…
8. Knockoffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
Brands hold immense sway over both consumers and the American legal system. Few know this as well as Dapper Dan, who went from street hustler to fashion impresario and has spent time on both sides of American trademark l…
7. A Fantasy of Fashion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Theme Music by Sasami [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:36
"Articles of Interest" theme song by Sasami Ashworth Sasami’s new album is out now. Get it!
6. Punk Style [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:48
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…
5. Blue Jeans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:05
For the most part, we tend to keep our clothes relatively clean and avoid spills and rips and tears. But denim is so hard-wearing and hard-working that it just kind of amasses more and more signs of wear. So you can lear…
4. Hawaiian Shirts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:18
There are a few ways to tell if you’re looking at an authentic, high-quality aloha shirt. If the pockets match the pattern, that’s a good sign, but it’s not everything. Much of understanding an aloha shirt is about payin…
3. Pockets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:13
Womenswear is littered with fake pockets that don’t open, or shallow pockets that can hardly hold more than a paperclip. If women’s clothes have pockets at all, they are often smaller and just fit less than men’s pockets…