Chautauqua Speaks: History of Women's Fashion

Explore how and why femininity has been defined through clothing, including pivotal shifts in the early 1900s. Examine the history of the pocket and why its inclusion in women’s garments is a political act. Discover how fashion reform has served as a powerful form of resistance during key cultural moments, and consider the broader connection between fashion and sociology—how this art form both reflects and drives economic, political, and social change.

Anna Denton is a fashion designer specializing in custom and bespoke suiting for women. Her undergraduate work at Haverford focused on Sociology, Art History, and Feminist Theory: fashion is the intersection of all three. She began her career in Manhattan’s fashion industry before attending graduate school at Columbia and subsequently spending a decade in business: consulting, telecommunications, technology. It was after this pivot that she discovered women lack effective professional dress, which led her to ask why. This discussion is the culmination of her research into the history of women’s clothing and how historical inequities have throughlines evidenced in today’s womenswear.

Venue located on Chautauqua Institution grounds; a gate pass is required.