Her Half of History

Most women, if they swam at all, were probably skinny dipping. Regular beach goers with regular beach wear got going in the 19th century when they wore an unbelievable amount of gear. In the decades since, the swimsuit shrunk in fits and starts, and even an occasional retreat.

This episode belongs in the series What's in the Closet and How It Got There.
See more notes on the website.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Most women, if they swam at all, were probably skinny dipping. Regular beach goers with regular beach wear got going in the 19th century when they wore an unbelievable amount of gear. In the decades since, the swimsuit shrunk in fits and starts, and even an occasional retreat.

This episode belongs in the series What's in the Closet and How It Got There.
See more notes on the website.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Join Into History for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Veiling was invented thousands of years ago. It became very common, if not always required, for Muslim women within a few generations of Muhammad. Wearing the veil became hotly contentious in the late 19th century. So much so, that at one point commentators thought it was dying out, but in fact the opposite has happened. Growing numbers of women wear the hijab, for a variety of religious, cultural, and political reasons.

The sari is so ancient that its origin is murky, but it too is at least 2000 years old. Dozens of draping styles and countless fabrics and patterns have been used in different regions around India and elsewhere in southern Asia, but the 20th century saw many of those differences retreat in the face of the ever popular nivi style. Today the sari is still widely worn, though Indian women also wear other traditional and Western clothing styles.

This episode belongs in the series What's in the Closet and How It Got There.

Check out my website for more details.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Veiling was invented thousands of years ago. It became very common, if not always required, for Muslim women within a few generations of Muhammad. Wearing the veil became hotly contentious in the late 19th century. So much so, that at one point commentators thought it was dying out, but in fact the opposite has happened. Growing numbers of women wear the hijab, for a variety of religious, cultural, and political reasons.

The sari is so ancient that its origin is murky, but it too is at least 2000 years old. Dozens of draping styles and countless fabrics and patterns have been used in different regions around India and elsewhere in southern Asia, but the 20th century saw many of those differences retreat in the face of the ever popular nivi style. Today the sari is still widely worn, though Indian women also wear other traditional and Western clothing styles.

This episode belongs in the series What's in the Closet and How It Got There.

Check out my website for more details.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Join Into History for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Large numbers of women in history went free and easy, wearing nothing that resembles modern underwear, though some of them wore plenty of undergarments that don’t resemble modern underwear. Knickers came in the early 19th century before evolving into briefs in the 20th century. Bras are generally also thought to be a 20th century invention, except it turns out that they may be quite a bit older than that after all.

This episode belongs in Series 1: What’s in the Closet and How Did It Get There?

Check out more details on the website here.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Join Into History for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Large numbers of women in history went free and easy, wearing nothing that resembles modern underwear, though some of them wore plenty of undergarments that don’t resemble modern underwear. Knickers came in the early 19th century before evolving into briefs in the 20th century. Bras are generally also thought to be a 20th century invention, except it turns out that they may be quite a bit older than that after all.

This episode belongs in Series 1: What’s in the Closet and How Did It Get There?

Check out more details on the website here.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

 The modern woman’s wardrobe contains many little mysteries. Why so few pockets? Why so many heels? And why are the buttons different on men’s and women’s shirts? In this episode, I discuss the times when pockets were detachable, men wore heels, and buttons were a mystery (as they still are today). 

This episode belongs in Series 1: What’s in the Closet and How Did It Get There?

Check out more details on the website here.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Join Into History for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

 The modern woman’s wardrobe contains many little mysteries. Why so few pockets? Why so many heels? And why are the buttons different on men’s and women’s shirts? In this episode, I discuss the times when pockets were detachable, men wore heels, and buttons were a mystery (as they still are today). 

This episode belongs in Series 1: What’s in the Closet and How Did It Get There?

Check out more details on the website here.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Hemlines throughout history have ranged from nonexistent (that is, no clothes at all) to trailing 25 feet behind you, but for the most part they went to at least the ankle and often the floor. Starting in the early 20th century, they started ricocheting up and down and up and down again until finally we have arrived at a point where you are free to look good in a skirt of pretty much any length you choose.

This episode belongs in Series 1: What’s in the Closet and How Did It Get There?

Check out more details on the website here.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Hemlines throughout history have ranged from nonexistent (that is, no clothes at all) to trailing 25 feet behind you, but for the most part they went to at least the ankle and often the floor. Starting in the early 20th century, they started ricocheting up and down and up and down again until finally we have arrived at a point where you are free to look good in a skirt of pretty much any length you choose.

This episode belongs in Series 1: What’s in the Closet and How Did It Get There?

Check out more details on the website here.

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction.

Join Into History for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content.

Follow me on Twitter as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.