Why Would Anyone Wear That?

Celia E. Stall-Meadows

Description

Bustles. Tight-laced Corsets. Caged crinolines that encased the hapless wearer in hoops of steel. Why would anyone want to wear such things? Yet, you can be certain that no lady of the Victorian upper class would choose to leave home without them—and she’d complete her look with a feather- and flower-festooned bonnet as befit the latest fashion.



With a blend of wisdom and wit, Why Would Anyone Wear That? explores extreme fashions from around the world. The Victorian era was by no means alone in strange sartorial choices. Throughout history, men and women have turned to clothing and accessories to adorn and accentuate parts of the body. Some of the fashions, like bloomers, were surprisingly functional. Others, like powdered wigs and hobble skirts, were inconvenient and uncomfortable. And a few particularly painful practices could even permanently disfigure the wearer, like brass coils worn in Burma to lengthen the neck and the custom of binding of women’s feet to fit tiny lotus slippers in Song dynasty China. Presenting dozens of the most peculiar fashions, including shoes, hats, jewelry, undergarments, and outerwear, the book provides insightful commentary, placing the garments and accessories in the proper historical, social, and cultural context.



If you’ve ever wondered why the codpiece was created or the leisure suit went out of style, this book will answer that question and many more. Fully illustrated and packed with fun facts, Why Would Anyone Wear That? introduces readers to the fascinating stories behind some of the world’s weirdest fashions.

Introduction: “Why Would Anyone Wear That?” Fascinating Fashions: Hennins  Mad as a Hatter  Feathered Hats  Cowboy Hats  Powdering  Scented Cones  Ruffs  The Hope Diamond  The Koh-i-Noor Diamond  Giraffe Women  Muslin Fever  Burqas  Zoot Suits and Teddy Boys  Leisure Suits Breast Binding  Flea Furs  Corsets Caged Crinolines  Bustles  Chastity Belts  Bloomers  Pumpkin Breeches  Hobble Skirts Poison Rings  Codpiece  Parti-colored Hosiery  Chinese Lily Feet  Poulaines or Cracows Chopines and Pattens  Running Shoes  Disposable Fashions  Interpreting and Predicting Fashion

Sujets

• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique
• General officer
• Fashion
• Anthropology
• Design
• General
• Mode (habillement)

Informations

• Publié par: Intellect Books
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783201716
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 15 Mo

Extrait

Examine extreme fashions across time and place in this beautifully illustrated and specialized costume history book, Why Would Anyone Wear That? Fascinating Fashion Facts . Discover dozens of the most restrictive and inconvenient fashions and some of the most liberating and functional clothing items. Costume history abounds with unusual and bizarre fashion stories and this book provides opportunities to explore a select group of historic styles in a fun, uncomplicated, and educational way. You’ll learn the “what” and “why” of extreme styles of clothing and accessories, from high-pointed hats called hennins to towering platform shoes called chopines .

Decide for yourself if these fashion extremes are frivolous and meaningless, or a reflection of the social and psychological aspects of the culture that made them popular. After reading Why Would Anyone Wear That? Fascinating Fashion Facts, you will want to conduct your own research to learn more about fashions from world history.

Celia Stall-Meadows, EdD. is a university professor teaching textiles, apparel, and fashion marketing. She maintains membership in the International Textile and Apparel Association. During graduate school, she served as curator for her college’s historic costume collection. She has taught courses in history of costume and social/psychological aspects of clothing. Leslie Stall Widener has a graphic design degree from the University of Tulsa and has illustrated three children’s books.

Stall-Meadows

why

WOULD ANYONE

wear that 

fascinating fashion facts

Written by Celia E. Stall-Meadows Illustrated by Leslie Stall Widener

WHY WOULD ANYONE WEAR THAT?

First published in the UK in 2013 by Intellect, The Mill, Parnall Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3JG, UK

First published in the USA in 2013 by Intellect, The University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA

Copyright © 2013 Intellect Ltd

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover image: © Leslie Stall Widener

Cover designer and typesetter: Ellen Thomas Copyeditor: MPS Technologies Production manager: Bethan Ball

ISBN: 9781841507279/eISBN: 978-1-78320-171-6

Printed & bound by Latimer Trend, Devon.

WHY WOULD ANYONE WEAR THAT?

FASCINATING FASHION FACTS

Written by Celia E. Stall-Meadows Illustrated by Leslie Stall Widener

intellectBristol, UK / Chicago, USA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

hîs beauîuy îusraed book îs or anyone wo îs înrîgued by asîon. Wîe cosume îsory sudens earn a vas amoun abou appare rom preîsorîc îmes o e presen,Wy Woud Anyone Wear hat? Fascinating Fasion Facts presens dîscussîons o ony e mos exreme coîng îems. We woud îke o express our sîncere anks o e oowîng peope a ïneec: Bean Ba, producîon manager, and Meanîe Marsa, assîsan book pubîser, or eîr guîdance and generous suppor; and James Campbe, markeîng execuîve, wo aended e ïTAA conerence and made e înîîa conac.

FROM CELIA STALL-MEADOWS

hank you o my ormer proessors a Okaoma Sae Unîversîy or enrîcîng my undersandîng o îs subjec maer. he cosume îsory cass ï ook as an undergraduae înîîay osered my îneres; aer, ï compeed a graduae assîsansîp as e curaor or OSU’s îsorîc cosume coecîon. Wen eacîng unîversîy courses în îsory o cosume, ï dîscovered a earners are no ony îneresed înwatpeope wore, bu înwypeope wore ese coîng exremes. A specîa ank you goes o my aened sîser, esîe, wose precîse îusraîons are ruy wor a ousand words. May îs be e begînnîng o many more book coaboraîons. To our supporîve and ovîng parens, Joe C. and Jo A. Sa, we are sure îs wî be your cofee abe book. To my usband, Kenda, and our cîdren, muc ove and anks!

FROM LESLIE STALL WIDENER

So muc graîude goes o my sîser or e opporunîy o e îs ascînaîng sory în pîcures. Ceîa, you înspîre me every day. And o Terry and our cîdren, a bîg ank you or your suppor durîng ose ae nîgs ï spen a my drawîng abe.

Introduction: “Why Would Anyone Wear That?”

Fascinating Fashions

Hennins Mad as a Hatter Feathered Hats Cowboy Hats Powdering Scented Cones Ruffs The Hope Diamond The Koh-i-Noor Diamond Giraffe Women Muslin Fever Burqas Zoot Suits and Teddy Boys Leisure Suits Breast Binding Flea Furs

9

15

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Corsets Caged Crinolines Bustles Chastity Belts Bloomers Pumpkin Breeches Hobble Skirts Poison Rings Codpiece Parti-colored Hosiery Chinese Lily Feet Poulaines or Cracows Chopines and Pattens Running Shoes Disposable Fashions

48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76

Interpreting and Predicting Fashion 79 Bibliography 83