Worn Stories

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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