Credit Points: 15
Study Time: 150 Hours

This unit introduces you late 18^th to 20^th centuries. It will explore the interdependent relationship between the design and construction ideals of the fashionable silhouette, and how the use of certain fabrics and textiles have contributed towards achieving specific shape and form through practice.

Through lectures, discursive seminars and individual tutorials, you will develop an authoritative understanding of how the fashion figure has been theoretically shaped by social, cultural, economic and political contexts, and reinforced by both bespoke practice and advances in manufacture and technology. An emphasis on the ability to critically evaluate the importance of visual references which have contributed towards the communication of these fashion ideals, will further develop your knowledge.

These themes will enable you to analyse, interpret and communicate theoretical concepts of fashion, and to formulate your own aesthetic ideas, thereby directly informing your practical units.

Outline Syllabus
An indicative guide to the content covered in this unit. 

• Introduction to the historical and cultural settings of fashion theory Fabric and textiles identified
• Analysis of visual references
• Interpretation of research texts and information 
• Development of research skills and academic protocols
• Museum/exhibition study visit/s

Method of Delivery
Lectures, group seminars, individual tutorials, museum and exhibition visit/s

Aims

A1 To introduce you to major historical themes and cultural issues related theoretically to fashion specialist practice.
A2 To develop your ability to critically evaluate visual references and source appropriate texts to communicate creative analysis.
A3 To introduce you to individual and collaborative learning.
A4 To enable you to develop research skills and present knowledge with the appropriately written academic protocols.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of major historical themes and cultural issues related theoretically to fashion specialist practice.
LO2 Communicate critical evaluation through the methods of visual referencing and by interpretation of text analysis.
LO3 Demonstrate the ability to debate your conceptual learning within a group situation and by individual written presentation.
LO4 Identify specialist research knowledge through appropriately presented academic writing.

Reference Material

Key
Breward, C (1995) The Culture of Fashion Manchester: Manchester Univ. Press
Cumming, V (2004) Understanding Fashion History Batsford
Fukai, A (Ed) (2000) The Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute FASHION A History from the 18th to the 20th Century London:TASCHEN
Tarrant, N (1994) The Development of Costume London: Routledge
Taylor, L (2002) The Study of Dress History Manchester University Press

Recommended
Bruzzi, S and Gibson, P C, (Eds) (2000) Fashion Cultures: Theories, Explorations and Analysis London: Routledge
Hollander, A (1993) Seeing Through Clothes London: University of California Press, Ltd
Lurie, A (1992) The Language of Clothes Heinemann
Wilson, E (2003) Adorned In Dreams, Fashion and Modernity London: I.B. Tauris

Articles
Breward, C, "Cultures, Identities, Histories: Fashioning a Cultural Approach to Dress", in, Fashion Theory, The Journal of Dress, Body and Culture Volume 2 Issue 4, pp301-313.
Taylor, L, "Doing the laundry? A Reassessment of Object-based Dress History", in, Fashion Theory, The Journal of Dress, Body and Culture, (1998) Volume 2 Issue 4, pp337-358.

Society Journals/Periodicals
Costume The Journal of the Costume Society
Fashion Theory The Journal of Dress, Body and Culture Berg
Selvedge Magazine
Textile The Journal of Cloth and Culture Berg