Books to Read: DRESS CODES - Meanings and Messages in American Culture by Ruth P. Rubinstein

 

DRESS CODES- Meanings and Messages in American Culture by Ruth P. Rubinstein, first published in 1995 is a book full of information about the social, psychological and physical reasons we wear clothes and certain fashions. Spanning as far back to before the Ancient Egyptians and covering a range of key times in fashion up until the 1990s, there is no way you could read this book without feeling you are an expert on the subject.

"Using Rubinstein's historical and contemporary examples, one realises that apparel- our most socialising visual art and our most socialised art- reveals self, set, and society with a remarkable clarity. Rubinstein's sociologically framed looking glass shows many trenchant examples from court attire to codpieces to sansculottes in dress history as well as more recent examples of red ribbons for AIDS awareness, gym shoes of heroic associations, and modern tattoos. Rubinstein's reflections on demeanor and dress are fascinating."

 - Richard Martin (Curator, The Costume Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Perhaps my favourite part of the book is Chapter Seven, Gender Images. It covers socialisation to gender to the female authority role to demise of subservience and the active ideal. This is an incredibly intriguing book and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the social and historical politics of fashion.  If I could change one thing, I would just wish there was more.

Ruby