Author: Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson
Publication Date: June 17, 2025
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, Fashion History, Women’s Studies

Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free is a revelatory biography of the most influential American fashion designer you’ve likely never heard of. Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson uncovers the hidden history and enduring legacy of Claire McCardell (1905–1958), whose radical vision transformed women’s fashion and, by extension, women’s lives. McCardell’s designs—ballet flats, mix-and-match separates, wrap dresses, hoodies, leggings, and denim in womenswear—form the backbone of much of what we wear today. She was a pioneer who tossed out corsets in favor of comfort, insisted on practical details like pockets and reachable zippers, and believed that fashion should support women’s independence...