Fashion-ology: An Introduction to Fashion Studies

Description

This new edition of a classic work offers a concise introduction to the sociology of fashion, and demystifies the workings of the fashion system. From the origins of fashion studies and the difference between clothing and fashion, through to an examination of 21st century subcultures, and the impact of the digital age on designers, Fashion-ology explores fashion as a global, social construct. With accessible overviews of key debates, issues, and perspectives, the book provides a complete exploration of the field, and features a wide range of international case studies which bring the theory to life. Updated with two new chapters on subcultures and the impact of technology, along with guides to further reading and a student guide to sociological research in fashion, this is essential reading for anyone studying fashion, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction Etymology of fashion Fashion as a concept and a phenomenon Proponents and opponents of fashion Studies of fashion in social science Outline of the book Guide to further reading Chapter 2 Sociological Discourse and Empirical Studies of Fashion Classical sociological discourse of fashion Fashion, modernity, and social mobility The origin of the fashion phenomenon Contemporary sociological studies of fashion Fashion and the sociology of culture Fashion as a manufactured cultural symbol Youth fashion, subcultures, and technology Conclusion Guide to further reading Chapter 3 Fashion as an Institutionalized System Theoretical framework of Fashion-ology Fashion as a myth supported by the system Different approaches to fashion systems The beginning of the fashion system Fashion production as collective activity Empirical study: The French fashion system as a prototype Conclusion Guide to further reading Chapter 4 Designers: The Personification of Fashion Designers in the studies of fashion Designers, creativity, and social structure Legitimation of the designer’s creativity The star system of designers Hierarchy among designers in the fashion system Conclusion Guide to further reading Chapter 5 The production, Gatekeeping, and Diffusion of Fashion Diffusion theories of fashion Gatekeepers: Making aesthetic judgments Diffusion strategies from fashion dolls to fashion shows Fashion propaganda through advertising Conclusion Guide to further reading Chapter 6 The Adoption and Consumption of Fashion Consumption: A historical perspective Consuming fashion as symbolic strategy Consumption and social status Conclusion Guide to further reading Chapter 7 Youth Subcultural Fashion as an Alternative System The theoretical foundation of subcultures Post-subcultural theories and contemporary youth subcultures A systemic approach to youth subcultures and fashion Punk as a prototype of a less structured alternative fashion system The internal mechanism of the alternative fashion system Conclusion Guide to further reading Chapter 8 The Impact of Technology in the Changing Fashion Systems Trickle-across theory in practice: A collapse of categorical boundaries A changing occupational structure in fashion The decentralization of fashion geography from Paris to the world Conclusion Guide to further reading Conclusion Appendix: Practical guide to sociological research in fashion and dress Research process Notes Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Bibliography Index