Fashion history is often told through designers and luxury brands. Yet many of the people who determined how the public understood fashion were editors, critics, photographers, and writers who interpreted it for millions of readers. Jewish women played an outsized role in building modern fashion media. They did far more than report trends. Through magazines, criticism, photography, and television, they helped transform fashion into a conversation about culture, identity, poli

For years, Hamilton has been my favorite musical. I first watched it when it was released on Disney+ in 2020, and ever since, I've known every lyric by heart. Yet the song that stayed with me most was the finale, "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story." There was something about those words that felt profoundly meaningful, though I couldn't quite explain why they resonated with me so deeply. Yesterday, my mom surprised me with tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway. After ne

When people think about classic Hollywood glamour, they usually picture satin gowns, diamonds, old studio portraits, and dramatic red carpets. But many of the people who helped create that image were Jewish actresses, beauty queens, and designers whose influence stretched far beyond film itself. Through costume design, fashion, celebrity image-making, photography, and performance, they helped shape what glamour looked like throughout the twentieth century. What makes that esp

It’s a rainy Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons. On this gloomy Sunday my sister and I watched The Devil Wears Prada 2. The movie series, loosely inspired by Vogue and Anna Wintour, remains so popular because it gives viewers what feels like a rare inside look into the fashion world, a world that often feels glamorous, intimidating, and slightly out of reach. What fascinated me most about the sequel was how much it focused on the evolution of fashion journalism over the pas

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition, Costume Art, I kept drifting back toward the same dress. It was white and heavily embellished, almost like something a modern Greek goddess would wear. Somehow it felt incredibly current despite being decades old — the kind of dress I could genuinely imagine wanting to wear someday to a black-tie gala or formal event. What was strange was that it did not even dominate the room. Costume Art was overflowing with dramatic piece

Shavuot begins in two days, which means synagogues will soon fill with white clothes. Wearing white has become one of Shavuots most recognizable customs, symbolizing purity, renewal, and spiritual preparation after the forty-nine days of counting the Omer. However, the connection between Shavuot and clothing goes far beyond aesthetics. Before the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai, God instructed Moshe in the Book of Exodus: “Go to the people and consecrate them

Four years ago today was my bat mitzvah. Technically, my birthday is in December, but because of Covid we postponed the celebration until the spring of sixth grade, when I was twelve. At the time, it felt worth the wait. I remember the countdown to the party almost more vividly than the actual ceremony itself. The custom dress. The fittings. The shoes. The hair appointments. I even got my top braces removed early just for the event. The dress became the centerpiece of everyth

The history of fashion retail is often told through famous brands, department stores, and powerful business families. Yet many of the biggest changes in the way Americans shop were shaped by Jewish women and Jewish immigrant entrepreneurs who transformed the fashion industry. They did more than open stores, they changed the entire shopping experience. From the rise of department stores and boutique fashion to inclusive sizing and personalized customer service, their ideas res

Before fashion was defined by runways, branding, and designer labels, it was built in crowded garment factories on New York City’s Lower East Side. At the center of that world were Jewish immigrant women whose labor quietly shaped the foundation of the American fashion industry. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jewish women arrived in the United States fleeing poverty and persecution in Eastern Europe. Many entered the garment industry, becoming the backbone of the

Amy Fine Collins is an American journalist, author, and longtime editor known for her influential presence in the world of fashion and style. She is known for her work at magazines like Vanity Fair and Airmail. Recognized for her sharp eye and elegant personal style, she is also a member of the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. Throughout her career, Amy Fine Collins has worked to document the intersection of fashion, history, and high society, making her a respe

Stephanie Gottlieb is the founder and creative director of Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewlery, a New York City- based brand. She has become one of the most recognizable names in contemporary jewelry, known not only for her vibrant and modern designs but also for her integrity, advocacy, and commitment to empowering others. Stephanie Gottlieb’s career embodies creativity, courage, and conviction. Gottlieb’s journey reminds us that true success is not measured by fame or followers

Ida Cohen Rosenthal, a Jewish immigrant in fashion, played a transformative role in shaping the modern bra industry. Born in 1886 in Rakov, Russia, she and her husband, William Rosenthal, immigrated to the United States in 1905. Together, they later invented the modern bra and founded Maidenform, which became a global leader in lingerie. Ida Cohen Rosenthal With limited resources, she managed to purchase a Singer sewing machine on a payment plan and began working as a seamst

Nettie Rosenstein (1890–1980) was a prominent American fashion designer based in New York City. Born Nettie Rosenscrans in Austria-Hungary in 1890, she immigrated to the U.S. with her Jewish family, settled in Harlem, and began a dressmaking business that grew into a successful fashion establishment by 1921. She was known for creating tailored looks that suited a variety of body types and for bringing ready-to-wear fashion, such as “the little black dress,” to American consum

Hattie Carnegie was one of the most influential figures in American fashion during the 1920s-1950s. She was born to a Jewish family in Vienna as Henrietta Kanengeiser and later immigrated to New York City’s Lower East Side. Her career began in the hat-making trade, which she joined at a young age to support her family. In 1909, she and her business partner, Rose Roth, established their own millinery business, which grew over the years. By 1919, Carnegie had bought out Roth an

Batsheva Hay, founder of the fashion brand Batsheva , is quietly redefining what it means to succeed in fashion. Batsheva grew up in Kew...

I had the honor of speaking to Rachie Shnay about her experience as a Jewish woman in the jewelry industry. Rachie Shnay is a fearless...