Dressed in Time: A World View

Description

Through object-based case studies of garments from the ancient past through to the 21st century, Margaret Maynard reveals the countless ways the temporal is woven into our attire. From the physical effects of age on garments to their changing cultural significance, time and fashion are inextricably linked. Every garment has its own pace and narrative, and every dress practice is rich with temporal associations: 'wearing' time in the form wristwatches, marking key moments in time from marriage to death, 'defying' time with beauty products, preserving and re-imagining time through vintage, and concepts of 'timeless' and 'classic' styles. This ground-breaking book presents a complete rethinking of the study of global fashion history, revealing the complex nature of changing fashion when viewed through the lens of time and challenging Eurocentric approaches such as the periodization of style and the arbitrary division of 'western' and 'non-western' fashion. Fashion in Time is essential reading for students and scholars of fashion and dress history, material culture studies, cultural anthropology, archaeology and related fields.

Margaret Maynard is Honorary Associate Professor at The University of Queensland, Australia.

Drawing on a lifetime of scholarship, Margaret Maynard uses time to explore the complexity of dress in a whirlwind account across global history, revealing diverse clothing practices from the adorned bodies of ancient times to 3D-printed dress styles of today. * Karen Tranberg Hansen, Northwestern University, USA * Margaret Maynard is a pioneer in global fashion studies and her new book, Dressed in Time, creatively approaches the field with rigor and purpose. Unpacking different notions of temporality in the light of varying cultural relationships, exchanges and memories, this book is an invaluable intervention. Snapshots contained in each chapter of this book provide readers with the perfect companion to interrogate and understand digital resources and archival material. If you've ever pondered how to meet the challenges ahead for fashion studies, this book is for you. * Regina A. Root, College of William & Mary, USA *