Men and Women: Dressing the Part [Paperback]

Claudia Brush Kidwell (Editor), Valerie Steele (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 1989

An examination of the ways in which we have defined exactly what it means to be a man or a woman. Among the subjects covered are the history of work clothes, the creation of sports uniforms, the marketing of so-called "sexy" clothing, and the development of children as the new "clothes-horses".

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kidwell (coauthor of Suiting Everyone: The Democratization of Clothing in America ), costume curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, and Steele ( Paris Fashion: A Cultural History ) examine fashion in a cultural context, directing their attention to utilitarian clothes (such as the garments worn by football players, who "laid aside their hats, and coats and vests" to play unprotected when the game took hold in the 19th century) and to the androgynous, controversial apparel of avant-garde '60s designer Rudi Gernreich. Focusing on the interplay of gender and attire, the authors conclude that "certain symbols resist change stubbornly," just as ideas of masculinity and femininity do, and offer multiple illuminating examples. Their comprehensive, succinct discussion of the many facets of dress and sexual roles treats the clothing of children, wardrobes worn on the job, fads and experiments (e.g., bloomers, a 19th century precursor of feminine trousers). Illustrated.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian (March 17, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874745594
• ISBN-13: 978-0874745597
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,093,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)