My mom, Selma, went to Traphagen School of Fashion in NYC in the mid 1940's and did many illustrations depicting the ideal fashionista of the time: sexy, sophisticated, glamorous, desirable, and a candidate for "arm candy." Traphagen was one of the earliest fashion schools and played a role in the development of American apparel design from 1923-1991, producing icons in the industry like Geoffrey Beene, John Galanos, and Anne Klein.  Today, its legacy are the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

Women's fashion has evolved from having to look a certain way for acceptance to a welcomed emancipation in style that reflects individuality, liberation, and creative expression. (Think about Lady Gaga!) May we appreciate our legacy and delight in its progression, as we continue to reinvent ourselves from the inside out.