Hem and Her: American Female Designers at the HCC Fashion Archives

Often overlooked, American women fashion designers have pioneered an empowering aesthetic, often focusing on practicality and function, that redefined global style for women and brought America to the forefront of fashion, moving beyond European couture. Key designers such as Claire McCardell and Ann Lowe shaped the “American Look” and paved the way for modern designers such as Diane von Furstenberg and Vera Wang. Led by HCC fashion archive ambassador and fashion department professor Alexander Chapman and librarian/archivist Denise Hulett, the presentation will delve into the female designers who helped create American women’s fashion.