What is Sighs & Whispers?
Sighs & Whispers is a weekly newsletter from Laura McLaws Helms. I am a fashion/cultural historian, researcher and writer based in New York.
With a particular interest in fashion, culture, women’s issues, design and magazines in the twentieth century, my work delves into all of these areas and illuminates their intersections. I have acted as an exhibition curator and design consultant to stylists, editors and designers within the film, advertising and fashion industries. Amongst my previous work, I curated an exhibition, Thea Porter: 70s Bohemian Chic, at the Fashion & Textile Museum in London (2015), and wrote an accompanying monograph, Thea Porter: Bohemian Chic, published by V & A Publications.
Why Sighs & Whispers?
In 2006 I started a fashion and cultural history blog called Sighs & Whispers, which was really my first small step into becoming a historian—it was named after the lingerie catalogue Guy Bourdin photographed for Bloomingdale's in 1976.
Sigh & Whispers, the newsletter is a place for me to discuss and work through ideas and research for larger projects (books, academic articles, etc.) A place to share and explore interesting subjects that have come to light while researching that don’t necessarily fit within the larger projects. A place to interview and talk with creatives—those outside the age range I converse with on my Sighs & Whispers podcast (formerly Lady's After Hours)—about their processes and projects. And a place that will maybe eventually offset some of the vagaries and stresses of the freelance life through paid subscriptions, which would also enable me to do more research and share more knowledge with you. Within this newsletter I discuss fashion, art, photography, film, architecture, interior design, food, magazines, fitness, women’s issues—the intersecting mess of culture, society and history that deeply stimulates me and that impacts all aspects of our life today.
Subscribe
If you like Sighs & Whispers a lot — or even if you like it just a little — please subscribe! It’s the best way to support me and this newsletter, to have new posts sent directly to your inbox, and to learn more about fashion and cultural history. One essay a week is only for paid subscribers.
You chose the free plan, so you’ll get an essay in your inbox every week. If you like what you read and want even more, consider going paid. You’ll get a second essay, as well as commenting privileges, access to my searchable archives and (soon to come) additional Q & A’s and discussion threads.
Being a historian is a strange and rather unstable job, so I’m trying something new here: Sighs & Whispers is just me and you. Whether you have a paid subscription or a free one, I’m thrilled you’re here.
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What else?
You can listen to my podcast and learn more about the episodes here (or listen on Apple, Spotify or Stitcher.) I post tons of historical images and video clips here, and you can learn more about my work here.
