Mary Jane Bradbury Talks About Petticoats, Pants and Politics: Fashion and the Quest for Freedom

“When you find a burden in belief or apparel, cast it off!” wrote 19th century dress reform advocate Amelia Bloomer, for whom the bloomer costume, the most scandalous clothing of the era, was named. Throughout history, clothing has been an ever-evolving mechanism used to regulate society. In return, fashion has been an important outlet through which individuals could rebel against the rules and laws that limit freedoms. Join scholar and historic interpreter Mary Jane Bradbury as she weaves the powerful forces of fashion with social and political reform across history and discusses the idea that fashion has rarely been about what it looks like as much as what it represents. Feel free to dress in your best duds, historic or otherwise.