Christopher Breward – Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (3 Volume Set)

Автор: Christopher Breward
Название книги: Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (3 Volume Set)
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Мода и дизайн
Страницы: 1492
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

The Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion is the product of a new, multidisciplinary field of
inquiry and an extraordinary international collaboration. The emerging field of fashion
studies, sometimes known as the “new” fashion history, differs significantly from traditional
dress history, which tended to focus on the stylistic analysis of elite fashions. By
contrast, contemporary fashion studies asks new questions, approaches a much wider range
of topics, and draws on the expertise of scholars across the disciplines. Whereas traditional
fashion reference books tend to be limited to an alphabetical survey of individual
designers, this encyclopedia seeks to provide critical insights into the history and contemporary
experience of clothing and fashion. By identifying the world’s preeminent authorities,
and by approaching the subject with a global focus and an interdisciplinary
perspective, the editorial board of The Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion aims to provide
the interested reader with an authoritative introduction to the wide range of issues that
define the field. These issues include Eurocentrism vs. multiculturalism; gender and sexual
identity; the relationship between fashion and other cultural manifestations, such as
music; theories of fashion; clothing and material culture; and the fashion system, encompassing
the design, manufacture, marketing, and representation of fashion. The editors of
the encyclopedia, whose expertise spans a wide range of disciplines, subject matter, and
geographical areas, have enlisted over 325 authors in an international survey of clothing,
fashion, and related subjects from prehistoric times to the present.
The Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion contains 640 essays ranging from specific topics
such as “African Textiles” and “Zoot Suit” to conceptual articles such as “Globalization”
and “Music and Fashion,” the latter cross-referenced to related entries such as
“Hip-Hop Fashion.” Naturally, we have tried to include all of the topics that readers
would expect to find, including essays on specific fashion designers: Christian Dior, Coco
Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, and dozens more. But these essays are neither hagiographies of
great “artists” nor potted biographies of successful businesspeople. Of the hundreds of
possible candidates for inclusion, we have concentrated on those who made a lasting contribution
to the arts of fashion and to fashion culture; each designer’s work is not only
described in detail but also analyzed with reference to its social and cultural context. Readers
interested in, say, Dior can also find related essays on topics such as the “New Look”
and “Paris Fashion.” Of course, fashion is a part of most people’s lives, not only because
they wear clothes, but also because they constantly consume images of fashion. This encyclopedia
addresses the subject of fashion across the media, with essays on “Fashion Photography”
(and on individual photographers such as Richard Avedon, Guy Bourdin, and
Helmut Newton), “Caricature and Fashion,” and “Film and Fashion.” The encyclopedia
also includes unexpected topics, such as “Cross-dressing,” “Footbinding,” and “Supermodels.”
There is even an essay on “The Future of Fashion.” Because the production
and marketing of textiles, clothing, and accessories is an integral part of the fashion system,
the encyclopedia includes a wide range of essays on such topics as “Techno-textiles,”
“Sweatshops,” “Fashion Magazines,” and “Department Stores.”