The Swimsuit: Fashion from Poolside to Catwalk

Description

The Swimsuit: Fashion from Poolside to Catwalk documents the modern swimsuit's trajectory from men's underwear and circus/performance wear to its unique niche in world fashion. It emphasizes the relationship between fashion, media, celebrity, sport and the cultivation of the modern body. This fascinating book provides an historical, sociological and cultural context in which to view how the swimsuit - and Australia, the country that significantly influenced its modern form - migrated from the cultural and colonial periphery to the centre of international attention. In addition, the book offers new perspectives on national histories of the swimsuit and investigates how traditional European fashion centers have opened up to new markets and modes of living, bringing together influences from around the globe. The Swimsuit is essential reading for students, scholars, and the general reader interested in fashion, popular culture, history, media, sport, and gender studies.

Christine Schmidt is a fashion researcher and independent fashion and concept consultant.

The Swimsuit presents a unique perspective on a topic that has been covered reasonably well in Europe and America. -- Deirdre Murphy * Costume * This book will appeal to academic and non-academic readers alike who are interested in swimsuits, in beach culture (especially in Australia) and in ideas about modesty and what parts of the body can or cannot be revealed to the public gaze. * TRC * In this book Christine Schmidt traces the history of this fairly modern piece of attire, from the murky world of men's underwear and circus/performance wear to its current elevated position in the fashion world. The author also goes into the historical, sociological and cultural context in which to view the swimsuit. * The Crack * Schmidt writes clearly and lucidly... Production quality is high and the volume is well illustrated... The Swimsuit shows how important it is that scholars and analysts of sport pay attention to and explore broader and related cultural industries. The sport-fashion links are among the most useful there: as two borderline and hybrid cultural industries, their interweaving can and should tell us a lot about sport as a consumer industry and its contemporary cultural imbrications. -- Malcolm MacLean, University of Gloucestershire * idrottsforum.org * Summarized * Book Bit for WTBF-AM/FM *