Raissa Bretaña
Business and Liberal Arts Center, Room B634
Education
BFA, Boston University
MA, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York
Biography
Raissa Bretaña is a New York City-based fashion historian. As a researcher, writer, lecturer, and educator, she takes an interdisciplinary approach to fashion history—working to find socio-cultural connections to the field, while also striving to make it more accessible through integration across various media platforms.
Raissa currently teaches fashion history courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute. She also works part-time at the New-York Historical Society, educating museum visitors about fashion history and the women's suffrage movement. Additionally, she hosts a video series for Glamour, in which she fact-checks historical costumes in popular media.
Raissa earned her Master of Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology, in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, and Museum Practice. She previously received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design from Boston University, and has worked professionally in theatre, opera, film, and television. She continues to consult on historical costumes for film and television productions.
Selected Publications
"Bloomerism in the Ballroom: Dress Reform and Evening Wear in 1851 (.pdf)," The Journal of Dress History, Vol. 2, Issue 1, (Spring 2018).
"Book Review of London Society Fashion, 1905–1925: The Wardrobe of Heather Firbank (.pdf)," The Journal of Dress History, Vol. 2, Issue 4, (Winter 2018).
Media
“Would They Wear That?” Video Series. Glamour, Condé Nast Entertainment. (April 2019–Present)
Calahan, April and Cassidy Zachary. “Styling the American Suffragist, an interview with Raissa Bretaña.” Dressed: The History of Fashion (Podcast), iHeartMedia. Air date: June 4, 2019.
Gipson, Ferren. “Fashion from the Canvas to the Silver Screen, ft. Raissa Bretaña.” Art Matters (Podcast), ArtUK. Air date: May 4, 2020.
Interviews
Schnell, Lindsay. “From ‘Votes for Women’ Sashes to Pussyhats, Fashion Makes Political Statements.” USA Today, (August 31, 2020).
Bateman, Kristen. “COVID-19 Might Change the Way We Dress Forever.” Teen Vogue, (April 27, 2020).
Courses
- HA 346 20th Century Fashion and Art
- HA 347 (History of) Costume and Fashion in Film