Trendsetters: Dolores Gonzales

The designs of Dolores Gonzales (1907 - 1994) became a fashion craze throughout the 1950s and were even worn by two First Ladies. Dolores was dubbed “The Dior of the Desert” by the LA Times and her work helped define Tucson as a fashion city. Her claim to fame is popularizing the squaw dress – also known as the patio dress or fiesta dress – which incorporated techniques and details from Native American and Mexican traditional attire.  

For Further Reading:

Modernism Week: “Squaw” dress trend kick-started in Tucson TUCSON'S SQUAW DRESS INDUSTRY What's in a Name?: The 1940s-1950s "Squaw Dress" The squaw dress: Tucson’s controversial but unique fashion history Dolores Gonzáles: la mexicana que vistió a las primeras damas de EEUU

This month, we're talking about Trendsetters: Women whose vision, style and willingness to break barriers changed culture — from what we wear to how we behave.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more.  Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. 

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, and Abbey Delk. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. 

Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.

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