In 1974 I had the privilege of serving as a docent for the exhibit “Suiting Everyone: The Democratization of American Clothing” at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History, curated by Claudia P. Kidwell. Chapters 15 and 16 of your text explain many ways, in the 20th century through WWII, that the fashion playing field was leveled so that the differences between established historic “opposites” (gender, socio-economic, other) were diminished.

1. Define what you think the term “democratization” means and how it applies to clothing.
2. In order of what you consider the most impactful, select 3 influences in Chapters 15 and 16 that contributed to this outcome and support each choice by describing the impact realized.