The Stories Behind Your Favorite Fashions

Is There a Real Mary Jane Behind Mary Jane Shoes?

Not quite: The most widely held theory is that the single-strapped footwear was named for a character in “Buster Brown,” a children’s comic strip that was popular in the early 1900s. Mary Jane was either Buster Brown’s sweetheart or sister, depending on which source you consult.
 
 

What’s the Connection Between Shakespeare and Raincoats?

Gabardine, a water-repellent fabric invented by Burberry, got its first mention from Shakespeare. The Bard used the word in The Merchant of Venice to refer to a coarse cloak worn as protection from storms. During World War I, British officers on the front lines kept warm and dry in a uniform coat made of the material―the original Burberry trench.