Take a trip through time with the WWD archives, a treasure trove of the most fascinating moments in fashion, beauty, culture and beyond.
Trends may come, go and come back again, but the pages of WWD have never gone out of style as a trusted source to the fashion industry, covering some of the most compelling news stories for more than 100 years.
Fashion has the ability to inform, reshape and, perhaps most importantly, inspire. In the spirit of keeping inspiration alive, here is a nostalgic look back at the archives from On This Day in fashion history.
On This Day is a recurring column in WWD that spotlights fashion moments of the past from the WWD Archives.
-
July 31, 1968 – Mae West Prepares for a ‘Spectacular’ and Beyond
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Mae West, allegedly aged 75+, had a film, a television special and a rock album in the works, but the screen siren shied away from politics: “I don’t know too much about politics, but I do know a good party man when I see one,” as seen in WWD on July 30, 1968.
-
July 29, 2013 – Lady Gaga Bares All for ‘Artpop’
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Lady Gaga was ready to strip down, both physically and musically, to show her true self and art ahead of the release of her third studio album “Artpop,” as seen in WWD on July 29, 2013.
-
July 26, 1968 – Beachgoers Reveal Beauty Regimens to Stay Beach-Ready
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media “The look maybe natural, but the effort is real. If she looks good, it’s no accident,” explained WWD in detailing the beauty rituals of the beach’s best-groomed, as seen on July 26, 1968.
-
July 24, 2003 – Cargo Pants and Novelty T-Shirts Trend With Customers and Retailers
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Retailers raved over the success of baggy cargo pants and novelty t-shirts when WWD asked what summer styles were resonating with customers, as seen on July 24, 2003.
-
July 22, 2008 – Betsey Johnson Still Has the Magic Touch
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media “Fashion’s all-time good-time girl,” Betsey Johnson, had no plans of slowing down as she celebrated thirty years of her company, with a full sportswear-driven relaunch in the works, as seen in WWD on July 22, 2008.
-
July 19, 1984 – Vice-Presidential Nominee Geraldine Ferraro Makes History
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media With another highly contentious election year in full speed, WWD revisits the 1984 campaign trail when Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale chose Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, making her the U.S.’s first female vice-presidential nominee of a major party, as seen on July 19, 1984.
-
July 17, 2012 – Stella McCartney Prepares for the Olympics
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media As the 2024 Paris Olympics quickly approaches, we revisit when Stella McCartney professed, “Lycra is my new best friend,” after designing uniforms for the 2012 British Olympic athletes, as seen in WWD on July 17, 2012.
-
July 15, 1968 – Brigitte Bardot Slammed for Her Risqué Party Attire
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Brigitte Bardot was no stranger to pushing the envelope on sensuality, but WWD had enough with her sexy shenanigans when the bombshell hosted a party in Saint-Tropez wearing little more than a skimpy bikini, as seen on July 15, 1968.
-
July 12, 2013 – Jay-Z is a Work of Art Alongside Famous Friends for Video Shoot
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Jay-Z delved into the art world when he filmed a Marina Abramovic-inspired music video for his song “Picasso Baby” in front of a series of live audiences and celebrity friends, as seen in WWD on July 12, 2013.
-
July 10, 1964 – The Ladies of New York Hit the Streets in Straw Bags and Pearls
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Whether dressed up or down, New York women found common ground in summer accessories, including woven straw bags, versatile scarves and classic pearls, as seen in WWD on July 10, 1964.
-
July 8, 1977 – New Yorkers Make the Best of Lunch Break
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media The ritual of New York City lunch was more than just a midday meal, as urbanites took time to rest, shop and catch up on reading, as seen in WWD on July 8, 1977.
-
July 5, 1977 – Loulou de la Falaise’s Unforgettable Wedding
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Guests to Loulou de la Falaise’s wedding to Thadee Klossowski took a fairytale-like boat ride through a lagoon to a small island where an intimate four-minute ceremony was followed by a nine-hour blowout reception with 500 of their closest friends, as seen in WWD on July 5, 1977.
-
July 3, 1979 – Wimbledon’s Courtside Style Fails to Impress
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media -
July 1, 1974 – A Stale Dress Market Is Examined by Designers and Retailers
Image Credit: Fairchild Fashion Media Designers and retailers looked for newness in a softening dress market as consumers embraced sportswear separates in lieu of the one-piece wardrobe staple, as seen in WWD on July 1, 1974.