CLAIRE MCCARDELL The Designer Who Set Women Free

Marni Penning brings cheerleader enthusiasm to this celebration of Claire McCardell, the pioneering early-twentieth-century American designer who thought women's clothes should be comfortable, as well as stylish. Maryland-born McCardell pioneered the kind of clothes we rely on today--ready-to-wear separates that can be mixed and matched into different outfits. She incorporated such menswear features as pockets, functional buttons, zippers the wearer can reach, and above all, comfort. Celebrated toward the end of her brief life with awards and renown, McCardell had to fight for every innovation, which makes for an eye-opening, head-slapping tale. Penning delights in everything, which, though endearing, can get in the way. Not every sentence needs an audible exclamation mark. No matter, McCardell deserves all the applause we can give. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2025]