Author Archives: Jonathan

About Jonathan

Jonathan Walford is a fashion historian and co-founder of the Fashion History Museum in Cambridge, Ontario. The FHM maintains a collection of nearly 12,000 artifacts dating from the mid 17th century to the present. Jonathan has authored various books and museum catalogues, including The Seductive Shoe, Shoes A-Z, Forties Fashion, 1950s American Fashion, and Sixties Fashion.

Canadian Fashion Connection – The Ideal Dress Company

Posted on 2019-03-21 by Jonathan

Moe Lupovich arrived in Canada as an immigrant from Romania in 1912. Unable to find jobs Moe and his brother Samuel began selling rags and saved up for a sewing machine, which enabled them to make aprons and sell them … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian dress | Leave a comment

Been a Bit Busy…

Posted on 2019-03-18 by Jonathan

It’s been a while since I have added a post because I have been busy pulling together the new exhibition Made in France at the museum. It also appears that the site has been hijacked and that many people are … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements | Leave a comment

Oscar Favourites

Posted on 2019-02-25 by Jonathan

Some looks I thought were worth noting: I wish they would let the ‘red carpet’ be symbolic rather than literal… a white carpet would have shown the clothes off better…

Posted in Fashion | Leave a comment

Canadian Fashion Connection – Trans-Canada Shoes

Posted on 2019-02-20 by Jonathan

Founded in c. 1954 (the logo was registered that year), Trans-Canada Shoes was a retail chain, headquartered in Quebec, that sold Canadian-made footwear, primarily from Quebec manufacturers. The chain was mostly located in strip plazas and suburban malls. The company … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian dress | Leave a comment

Karl Lagerfeld, 1933 – 2019

Posted on 2019-02-19 by Jonathan

Karl Lagerfeld died earlier today of pancreatic cancer at the age of 85. Rumours of failing health surfaced a few weeks ago when he didn’t make his end-of-show-bow at the Paris Chanel show on January 22.   Karl Otto Lagerfeldt was … Continue reading →

Posted in Designers/Couturiers | Leave a comment

As Seen In: Lee Radziwell wearing Halston, c. 1976

Posted on 2019-02-17 by Jonathan

I just heard that Lee Radziwell, younger sister of Jacqueline Kennedy, passed away two days ago. Radziwill (1933 – 2019) was known for her impeccable style and was even entered into the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 1994. While … Continue reading →

Posted in As Seen In | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Fashion in Song – Fashion Is Danger (2009)

Posted on 2019-02-14 by Jonathan

This 80’s send-up is by New Zealand comedy team The Flight of the Conchords. FashionF-f-f-f-f-fashionF-fashionS-s-styleWarL-l-l-look look look I’m the edge, I’m the chic, I’m the tasteI’m a larger than life with just a hint of laceI’m avant-garde, I’m the heir, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion in song | Leave a comment

Canadian Fashion Connection – The Woodward’s Jingle

Posted on 2019-02-13 by Jonathan

If you grew up in Vancouver in the 1960s and 1970s like I did, you knew this tune – the $1.49 Day jingle. I blogged about Woodward’s, the Vancouver department store that was in business from 1892 to 1992 a … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian dress, Retailing | Leave a comment

Grammy Wowzers

Posted on 2019-02-12 by Jonathan

Like I said in the post about the Golden Globes, I don’t watch any of these shows anymore, but I do like to see the red carpet frocks and there were some real show stoppers at this year’s Grammys. Edgier … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CAFTCAD First Annual Awards

Posted on 2019-02-11 by Jonathan

Last night was the first annual awards for CAFTCAD (Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design). The national organization promotes, networks, and shares knowledge with Canadians involved in costume design in film, television and other forms of … Continue reading →

Posted in film costuming | Leave a comment