How Fashion Turned Me into a History Buff (Kind Of 😆)

If you had told my younger self that one day I'd be writing about history—and actually enjoying it—I would have laughed in your face.

Social studies was never my thing. I scraped by in history class, barely passing. It all felt so distant and abstract, like a bunch of random dates and events that had nothing to do with me. I couldn’t see it, so I didn’t really believe in its relevance.

But then, everything changed.

A visually engaging collage depicting historical fashion trends from ancient civilizations to modern-day sustainable fashion, illustrating the connection between world events and clothing styles.

I took 2 years of a pre-college program at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), and let me tell you—that experience was a game-changer. Instead of staring at textbook timelines, I started learning about how fashion and history are completely intertwined.

Suddenly, history wasn’t just about wars and treaties. It was about how people dressed, what they valued, what materials were available, and how major events shaped the way people expressed themselves.

The Roaring ‘20s? Flapper dresses, rebellion, and the rise of women’s independence.

The Great Depression? Simple, practical clothing reflecting economic hardship.

World War II? Utility fashion, rationing, and the birth of American sportswear and the bikini.

The ‘70s? A mix of hippie freedom and disco glamour, mirroring social change.

Learning fashion history gave me a whole new lens to look at world history. Instead of memorizing facts, I could now visualize time periods through the clothes people wore—and that made history so much cooler.

Fast forward to today, and I’m in a relationship with someone who’s literally a historian and works in politics. The guy can tell you exactly what was happening in the world if you give him a date. Meanwhile, I can tell you what people were wearing at that time and why.

Our conversations are a hilarious mix of:

Him: “The Civil Rights Movement gained momentum in the ‘60s.”

Me: “Which is why the mod look took off—fashion was breaking the rules just like society was!”

Him: “The Industrial Revolution changed everything in the 19th century.”

Me: “And boom! That’s when mass production of clothing started.”

It’s become this amazing exchange where we teach each other history from totally different angles. And now, I want to do the same for you.

Teaching History Through Fashion

I’m starting a blog series where I’ll break down different historical events through the lens of fashion. If you’ve ever found history boring or hard to connect with, trust me—this approach makes it way more fun.

Get ready to learn how:

The French Revolution shaped modern fashion.

The 1920s dress revolution was tied to women’s rights.

The rise of streetwear connects to social movements.

History isn’t just dates and politics—it’s culture, creativity, rebellion, and innovation. And fashion?

Well, it’s been right there the whole time, reflecting it all.

So, let’s explore history together—one outfit at a time.