Fashion and Class

Reviews / Votes

Worth (Arts Univ. Bournemouth, UK) argues that fashion has been intertwined with the developing notion of class and class consciousness, resulting from changing political, social, technological, and cultural events in Britain over the past 250 years ... She provides an important, thought-provoking study. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels. * CHOICE * Rachel Worth's wonderfully packed study of fashion and its intersections with social history tells us as much about the democratization of society as about developments in the fashion industry ... This thought-provoking and timely book is relevant to every single one of us. * Times Literary Supplement * Many fascinating case studies [help] make this account intensely readable ... A useful addition to the bookshelf of any student even remotely interested in society, literature, and clothing. * The Journal of Dress History * Fashion and Class is a timely addressing of the relationship between dress, fabric and social identity. In an era when the politics of wealth, labour and mobility are so contested it is ever more pressing for historians to seek context and precedence in the visual and material culture of the past. Rachel Worth is an authoritative guide to a complex terrain. * Christopher Breward, National Galleries of Scotland * An important book ... Worth discusses the fundamental dress and social history issues of class, fashion and democracy across nearly 250 years in order to question long-held dress history assumptions ... Terrific. * Lou Taylor, University of Brighton, UK * Drawing on a rich and diverse range of research, Worth constructs an intelligent and engaging discussion about the ways fashion intersects with class identities. Her book sheds light on the ways post-18th century dress and textiles have been entwined with expressions and experiences of class, and considers how these connections have altered over time. * Rebecca Arnold, Courtauld Institute of Art, UK * This provocative book clearly demonstrates how one's perception of their place in society is affected by fashion and the choices available. It should stimulate healthy discussions of equality, social justice and upward mobility within a fashion context. * Jean L. Druesedow, Kent State University Museum, USA *