Hey, gals (and some guys): Want some insight into why you're wearing those ridiculously high heels to work? Your choice of garments and accessories speaks volumes about what's transpiring in the world, politically and culturally. Take working women during World War II: The time saw a diminished use of buttons, pleats and zippers but veered toward higher hemlines to save on accessories and fabric. Also, shoulder pads rose in popularity, since they embodied a strong militarized look. Postwar, a time of celebration and hope, inspired designers to create feminine dresses sporting nipped waists, fuller hips and colorful prints. Get historically style savvy (and maybe figure out why you choose to suffer in those shoes) and explore the dynamics of clothing worn by fictional and real working women between the 1940s and 1970s at Women's Working Fashion/The Best of Everything. Hosted by the American Cinematheque, Clever Vintage Clothing and the Art Deco Society of L.A., the multi-event gathering offers enlightenment along with swell shopping opportunities. Clothing historian Dave Temple kicks off the educational portion with a lecture on women's career wear using film and TV references and visuals from myvintagevogue.com, followed by a Clever Vintage Clothing runway show complementing the theme, then a screening of 1959 film The Best of Everything, which starred model Suzy Parker and was Oscar-nominated for Best Costume Design. All the while, the Helms Design District Vintage Boutique (temporarily relocated due to reconstruction in the Helms Bakery complex) is ongoing in the courtyard. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Sat., June 14, noon-6 p.m. (lecture begins at 2 p.m.); lecture and screening, $11; boutique entry only, $5; americancinemathequecalendar.com.

Sat., June 14, 2 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 06/14/14)

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