Worn Stories

Clothing—or lack thereof—can bring people together, whether they're celebrating a life, shining on the dance floor or woodworking in the nude.

Loss hurts—and inspires. A codpiece is revived as a career rebounds. A stray coat leads to adventure while airbrushed tees memorialize the dead.

Author Emily Spivack rediscovers the first thing she ever wore, but that's just the start of a look at origin stories and how clothing shapes a life.

Gender-neutral b'nai mitzvah garb, football pants worn by a Kurdish American player, a sexy jockstrap for a writer—there's no one way to grow up.

Protective, practical uniforms find new uses when a crossing guard refuses to be defined, an artist enjoys erasure, and a lawmaker proudly stands out.

Let it ride. These ladies are betting big in Las Vegas, tackling pro wrestling, showcasing Black nightlife and even glittering onstage as Charo.

Designer leggings and a hoodie can be a matter of life and death when a creative recalls L.A.'s plague years and a dad hunts for signs of his dead son.

A Vegas singer embraces his inner Elvis, boots bring back a kicked-to-the-curb love, and a quilt patches up a family. Love is all sewn up in our duds.