Books in the Dress, Body, Culture series

While highlighting how the gender identity of transsexuals relates to hormonal and surgical changes in the body as well as to changes in dress, this text investigates the pressures and motivations to conform to expected gender roles, and the ways in which these are affected.

Deals comprehensively with German fashion from World War I through to the end of the Third Reich. This book explores the failed attempt by the Nazi state to construct a female image. It details the inner workings of a government-supported fashion institute and an organization established to help aryanize the German fashion world.

This is the first comprehensive account of Jewish clothing, both profane and sacred, from its origins through to the present day. Focusing on tensions over gender, ethnic identity and assimilation, each chapter discusses the meaning and symbolism of a specific era or type of Jewish dress, whether traditional or contemporary.

Changing trends in fashion have always reflected large-scale social and cultural changes. This title presents a multi-disciplinary approach to examining fashion change, bringing together theory from fashion studies, cultural studies, sociology, psychology and art history, amongst others. It is intended for the undergraduate student of fashion.

This is the first anthropological study of the contemporary Chinese fashion and textile industries from high-end designer clothing to mass manufacture.

Provides a comprehensive account of modern Chinese fashion since 1978. This book offers an analysis of the development of the Chinese fashion industry as well as an analysis of the relationship between dress, gender, identity and consumption in contemporary China. It is suitable for students of fashion and textiles.

Examines how aesthetic products are defined, distributed and valued. This book focuses on the work of some of the market agents, particularly model agents or 'bookers' and fashion buyers, shaping the aesthetics inside their markets. It develops a theoretical framework for understanding the distinctive features of aesthetic marketplaces.

Competitive ballroom is much more than a style of dance. This book explores the intersection of dance cultures, dress and the body. It shows how dancing influences mind and body alike. It provides an ethnographic picture of how dancers and others live their lives both on and off the dance floor.

Drawing examples from a range of African cultures, this book focuses on the art patronage systems that stimulate production, consumption, commodification and cultural meaning, and emphasizes the importance of cloth to aesthetic and cultural expression in African societies.

Moving from first hand interviews with dancers and others, this book broadens into an accessible examination of the popularity of "striptease culture," with sex-saturated media imagery, and stripper aerobics at your local gym. It aims to scrutinize the truth of a industry whose norms are increasingly at the center of contemporary society.

Explores Goths' expressive practices of dress, fashion, style and the body, in relation to issues of identity and representation. This book shares accounts of the author's experiences exploring gender and sexuality and doing fieldwork in the Gothic subculture.

This accessible study of religious dress practices contains case studies on a wide range of religious groups, including: Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Druids, Shamans, and Mystics. Its unique sensory approach will appeal to scholars and students across many disciplines.

Quilting, once regarded as a traditional craft, has broken through the barriers of history, art and commerce to become a global phenomenon, international multi-billion dollar industry and means of gendered cultural production. This book explores how and why women quilt.

Why does nudity mean so many contradictory things, and why is it treated so differently in different contexts? Drawing on a wealth of examples from popular culture, literature, philosophy and religion, as well as first-hand interviews, this work goes deep into the naked underworld to answer these questions.

Goths represent one of the most arresting, distinctive and enduring subcultures. From dress and musical tastes to social habits and the use of the internet, this book details the inner workings of this intriguing group.

Presents an assessment of Latin America's influence on global fashion. This work examines the significance of textiles and dress to Latin American culture and the reasons behind it from fashion history to popular culture and the (re)making of traditional garments, such as the poncho, the guayabera and maguey-fiber sandals.

Through rich ethnographic detail and cutting-edge theory, DIY Style tells the fascinating story of an international do-it-yourself (DIY) movement through a major case study of the "indie" music and fashion scene in Indonesia.