Memories of Dress

Book excerpt: Memories of clothing feature prominently in (auto)biographies, yet traditionally they have not been subjected to the same level of academic scrutiny as other sources. Memories of Dress aims to redress this imbalance by bringing (auto)biographical memories to the centre of a new methodology for understanding fashion history, material culture and other disciplines. Presenting a comprehensive overview of theoretical and practice-based approaches, the book invites readers to explore the relations between clothing and memory through diverse examples ranging from gay men's oral history to Hungarian socialist sewing. Chapters by leading and emerging experts consider the ways in which dress is remembered and the ways that memories and nostalgia in turn influence everyday dress practices; how clothing offers ways to maintain or subvert social and cultural groups as well as local, national and international style; and the impact of class, gender, race and disability on material identities. Uniquely weaving personal recollection with theory, this multidisciplinary book offers new ways of understanding clothing, material culture and memory.