Short showStyle and Status

Explore how clothing choices have defined social hierarchy and personal identity throughout history. This series uncovers the psychology behind trends and explains exactly what our outfits communicate to the world around us. Discover the deep cultural impact of what we wear.

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Why did women lose their pockets?

Why did women lose their pockets?

Fashion trends that stripped away privacy

3:19
Why wear shoes you can't walk in?

Why wear shoes you can't walk in?

How impractical fashion signaled extreme wealth

3:11
Why did Tudor kings pad their pants?

Why did Tudor kings pad their pants?

How exaggerated fashion projected political power

3:50
Why did Elizabethans wear giant collars?

Why did Elizabethans wear giant collars?

Fashion designed to make physical labor impossible

3:36
Why did a fabric pattern become illegal?

Why did a fabric pattern become illegal?

Using dress codes to crush a political rebellion.

2:51
Why did royals wear powdered wigs?

Why did royals wear powdered wigs?

A medical cover-up that became a status symbol

3:27
Why do men wear long pants?

Why do men wear long pants?

The bloody revolution behind modern trousers

3:40
Why was wearing a suit a crime?

Why was wearing a suit a crime?

How fabric rationing sparked a rebellion

3:04
Why was the color purple illegal?

Why was the color purple illegal?

The deadly economics of ancient fashion laws

3:27
Why were high heels made for men?

Why were high heels made for men?

How military gear became a symbol of status.

3:21