History and the Other Disciplines: History of Costume, Aesthetics, and Appearance
There are many noted discrepancies, in relation to many present day fashion/clothing writings. Example, failing to acknowledge the uniqueness between the centuries and eras, failing to interpret within the appropriate historical context, (ie, Costumes throughout the ages have symbolically expressed the inner philosophical thoughts which directed the behaviour of a given epoch. Clothes exemplify society and culture of a particular era and environment. The differences between clothing styles and fashions varied throughout pre-1900 centuries, therefore, the differences between clothing/fashion theories also varied and unique to each century).
Poster 2: A Brief History of Correctional Attire
During the nineteenth century, convicts began to be dressed in different colored clothing bearing inscriptions, posters, graphical texts and symbols. The distinctive penal attire was established on the basis of classification, protection, discipline and management. The color was important for penal clothing. Yellow was used because it traditionally signalled degradation and humiliation, and is the colour of disgrace in Europe. The colour yellow was chosen because of its visibility and therefore for safety and caution. Yellow clothing, especially parti-colored- two contrastive, often black and yellow or grey and yellow uniforms, were to be worn by serious criminals only.
Poster 3: Flora and Fauna: The Natural World and its Influence on Fashion and Clothing
The natural world has always been a major source of inspiration for the clothing and fashion. Eg, Victorian obsession for expertly worked curiosities from foreign lands using unusual flora and fauna, such as iridescent feathers, hummingbirds and beetle wings created an extensive European export market in the nineteenth century. In the nineteenth-century Europe, actual sized stuffed and imitation animals, ie, birds, cats, ouistitis were used to embellish clothes, hats, bonnets and boas were in fashion. An adornment of colorful feathers symbolized status, conforming to the theory of conspicuous consumption and fashion-dictated social dominance.
Poster 4: Appearance: The Histories of the Body in the Context of Clothing
Attire, throughout history, performed a vital function as a form of non-verbal communication. Clothing and its decorative version called ‘finery’ is an effective symbol which signifies the wearer’s societal standing, occupation and gender. The questions: Why did men and women dress distinctively? Why did women’s dresses conceal their bodies? and, Why were women’s dresses decorative?, were directly associated with gender issues such as social and cultural differentiations of gender, and different social roles and behaviours expected from each gender in society.
Poster 5: History of Costume: The Consumption and Governance of Attire in the State of New York
The internal and external influences which impacted upon early inhabitants' ways of dressing, their societal attitudes and social demeanor. Also, the influences caused by world-wide dominant events, ideas and social groups, and their effect on societal and cultural attitudes. The affiliation between early clothing and the economic growth in the context of the development of the clothing economy. Throughout the centuries clothes have represented a fundamental human requirement whilst revealing societies declaration, identity and standards.