Stitch in Time 2 [VHS]

Produced in cooperation with Taxi Vidéo Brousse and La Cinquième in France and fascinating images culled from the WPA Film Library's 20th century archive, A Stitch in Time explores how political, technological, cultural, and social changes have impacted the way we dress. The series is full of interesting and amusing historical tidbits: men were the first to wear stockings; platform shoes were worn in 16th century Italy; women wore long dresses to swim and play tennis at the turn of the century; and until about 100 years ago, babies were forced to wear tight wrapping because it was believed it would help their spines and legs grow straight!

Episode summary for Volume 2:

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (Female Beauty Ideals)
Be it Marilyn's curves or Twiggy's slender hips, frosted pink lipstick or bright green eyeshadow, the 20th century has seen beauty ideals change at the speed of light. And there were milestone achievements in beauty culture, from shampoo to plastic surgery. This episode is about changing looks, and the industries that accommodate the drive for perfection.

A Close Shave (Male Beauty Ideals)
The idea that all a man has to do is put on shirt and he's ready to head out the door is a myth. Men have their own set of problems: trimming the goatee, growing sideburns, buffing up the biceps and hiding that bald spot. This episode takes a look back on a century in which men suddenly became victims of the beauty industry.

Some Enchanted Evening (Evening Wear)
Two hundred years ago, it was an upper class lady's job to dress in masses of silk and velvet to display her husband's wealth. Society has come a long way--women now appear unescorted in short, black cocktail dresses. Evening wear has always been the fashion designer's favorite playground; from the short and transparent flapper dress to the glittery pantsuit for flower children out on the town.

All That Glitters (Jewels)
Diamonds may be forever, but fashion is fickle. While strings of pearls and crystal bracelets accompanied the sophisticated flapper dress, earrings made from big plastic disks were necessary for the sixties pop-art styles. In the 1990's, designers created 'cyber jewelry' that hides microprocessors. This episode features trivia on cultured pearls, earclips and cubic zirconia, as well as dazzling footage of jewels that glitter.

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Furs)
Fur is both a necessity for the Inuit people fighting the eternal Arctic ice, and a luxury item in today's culture. A king's ermine signifies power, while a 1930's movie star, dripping in white fox, exudes sex appeal. But, since the 1960's, fur lovers have found themselves in the crossfire of a heated debate over animal rights. The history of fur is about much more than just fashion...

East Meets West (Ethnic Influences on Fashion)
With pervasive global influences, the ethnic origins of everyday clothes are often hard to recognize. Pajamas borrowed their name from the Hindi word for pants and tie-dye techniques were imported from the Far East. Many ethnic designs blend seamlessly into the daily wardrobe while others are worn to set us apart and show pride in our heritage.

Fit to Be Tied (Ties)
Rivaled by its precursor the cravat, with regional variations like the bolo tie and its sophisticated cousin, the bow tie, the standard business tie as it is known today was not invented until the 1920's. Ever since, it has persistently widened and narrowed, and adopted every color and print imaginable. In the 1930's, it even received royal recognition when the Duke of Windsor invented a knot that bears his name to this day.

The Cat Is Out of the Bag (Bags)
Victorian women carried the tiniest and most impractical bags because they had servants to carry their belongings. Then, along came the emancipated woman who didn't rely on a male escort to tote her essentials. Eventually, handbags and purses of all shapes and sizes were designed to fit a woman's personal sense of style. Whether it's a Hermès classic purse or just an old backpack--it's not just the contents of a bag that gives away the carrier's inner feelings.

The 'Eyes' Have It (Glasses)
Near-sighted ancestors had to make do with lorgnettes, monocles, and ultra-thick lenses. Today, wearing glasses can be fun. Ever since the unforgettable rhinestone cat-eye glasses from the 1950's, eyewear designs have gone crazy. Spectacles range from John Lennon's singular round style to Elton John's vast collection of wacky sunglasses with one thing in common, lenses are finally light and comfortable.

Following Suit (Suits for Women)
Today, it's often considered quite conservative, but the suit for women was once a revolution in the world of female fashion. The suit introduced comfort into a wardrobe once dominated by corsets and crinolines, and it became the ideal multifunctional outfit for every occasion. Coco Chanel's classic design immortalized the suit for women. Whether it was worn by the imitable Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis or by the super-woman of the 1980's, the suit is here to stay.

Knit Wit (Knitwear)
Mostly reserved for scarves and sweaters nowadays, knitted wool was once used for everything that needed to be soft and stretchy: a baby's layette, sports clothing and even bathing suits. Knitwear is more than just a fabric. In the first half of the 20th century, knitwear came to stand for a new way of life: more leisure, less formality and most of all, comfort.

Rain or Shine (Umbrellas and Canes)
At the turn of the century, women never left the house without a dainty umbrella or parasol to protect their skin against the sun. As tanned skin became fashionable, the umbrella's main purpose shifted to shield against the rain. Today, umbrellas are only carried when necessary, and it is considered a burden rather than a chic accessory...

Bet Your Boots (Boots)
Boots can be much more than the classic, functional rubber model. In fact, ankle boots were once the required footwear for a 'decent' lady, as it helped her long skirts conceal her ankle. As hemlines moved up, shoes also began to reveal more of the foot. But boots kept coming back--from sexy stilettos to provocative thigh-highs, they have straddled fashion and functionality across the 20th century.