Leading Ladies

Three Things to Know About Claire McCardell

1. A trailblazer and visionary, Claire was a pioneer in American Sportswear.

2. Order her 1955 book What Shall I Wear?: The What, Where, When and How Much of Fashion, . In the book, McCardell reminded her fans that “casual never means careless.”

3.With a diagnosis of terminal colon cancer, long-time friend and classmate, Mildred Orrick helped McCardell complete her final collection from her hospital bed.

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