Women's fashion is largely a story of liberation. The evolution of women's fashion is a long and winding history. In fashion history the division between haute couture and ready-to-wear was not sharply defined. In the late 1800's and early 1900's The two separate modes of production were still far from being competitors and they often co-existed in houses where the seamstresses moved freely between made-to-measure and ready-made. A radical change came about in fashion. Bouffant coiffures gave way to short bobs, dresses with long trains gave way to above-the-knee pinafores. Corsets were abandoned and women borrowed their clothes from the male wardrobe and chose to dress like boys. Although, at first, many couturiers were reluctant to adopt the new androgynous style, they ultimately embraced them wholeheartedly. There are notable figures in modern history who paved the way for the making of women's styles today. Many of the individuals behind these 'iconic' designs are women designers. 'Who better to design for women than women? Women fashion designers have played a pivotal role in both shaping and reflecting radical shifts in our social consciousness. This program celebrates female creativity and business knowledge featuring many of the World's most notable and successful female fashion designers who not only created iconic brands, designed what women wore, but achieved remarkable success in the world of women's fashion. Featuring: Melissa Fleis, Elsa Schiaparelli, Jeanne Lanvin, Edith Head, Iris Apfel, Diane Von Furstenberg, Miuccia Prada, Barbara Hulanicki, Coco Chanel, Mary Quant, Sara Blakley, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, Vera Wang, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kathy Ireland, Tracy Reese, Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and Rei Kawakubo.