"Fantasy and reality often overlap": Contextualizing Disney Undressed

"Silk suit, black tie..." you don't need a reason why! Not when it comes to joining me for another episode of Disney Undressed! This time I'm chatting with fashion historian Dr. Chloe Chapin about suits and the real historical references and social commentary behind some of Disney's "manly men." Find out why EVERYONE "is crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man" and join us as we get into Prince Eric's pantaloons, George Washington's pant problems, and talk about her new book Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men.Dr. Chloe Chapin is a costume designer, artist, and fashion historian. She has a MFA in costume design from the Yale School of Drama, an MA in fashion and textile studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and a PhD in American Studies from Harvard University. As a costume designer for over twenty years, Chloe worked on Broadway musicals, opera, Shakespeare, contemporary plays, and downtown experimental dance theater. She has taught at FIT, Parsons, Reed College, and Harvard. Chloe has been a Fulbright Scholar and has held research fellowships at the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon, Monticello, the Huntington, and the American Antiquarian Society. She works at Harvard University and lives in Cambridge, MA. Her first book, Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men, comes out with Oxford University Press on June 1, 2026. Her book investigates the materiality, manufacture, and meaning behind men’s suits between the American Revolution and the Civil War, and examines the impact of the symbolism of suits on the modern world.Copies of Chloe's book Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Refashioning of Modern Men is published by oxford University Press and are available June 1, 2026.

“Who’s that walking down the street? Are they shovels or are they feet?” Get ready to dissect the lankiest lothario in Sleepy Hollow when I am joined by Dr. Elizabeth Bradley for a Halloween episode of Disney Undressed! In this episode we chat about Disney’s 1949 version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the eclectically-attired townsfolk who Ichabod Crane encounters during his brief tenure as the town’s schoolmaster. We talk about Sleepy Hollow’s major players like the delicious “coquette” Katrina Van Tassel and the “boisterous” Brom Bones as well as a few daring characters in the periphery.Dr. Bradley is the Vice President of Programs and Engagement at Historic Hudson Valley in New York and the author of Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York and the editor of two Penguin Classic editions of Washington Irving's work.Historic Hudson ValleyKnickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York Written by Elizabeth L. BradleyThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories Written by Washington Irving, Introduction and Notes by Elizabeth L. BradleyA History of New York Written by Washington Irving, Introduction and Notes by Elizabeth L. Bradley

Where the crypt doors creak, you know there's some bangin' fashion! The maids and butlers of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion are some of the most turned out cast members in the park, but what-- and when-- are their costumes referencing? Join Marley and her guest Victoria Pettersen Lantz to talk about the Victorian fashion influences in everyone's favorite haunted home.

Why should you worry? Why should you caaaaaare?” Find out with Marley and her guest Hannah Palsa while they chat about 80s fashion and dogs wearing makeup in Disney’s Oliver & Company! They’ll discuss the history of fashioning man’s best friend from collars to licenses, as well as the human styles that adorn them in this film.

Join me for the first *proper* episode of DU where I chat with Dr. Maarit Kalmakurki about Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles (2004). We discuss mid-century fashion, superhero outfits, and the challenges of costume design in the context of digital animation! 

In this mini-episode, learn a bit more about just who in the heck I am and what kinds of things I'll be researching on this fashionable journey through the wonderful world of Disney fashion! I share my background with Disney along with a couple examples of topics that pique my interest such as historical influence on animated costumes in film and Disney-inspired fashion in the real world.

A brief overview of the Disney Undressed podcast