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.