Dress Codes Meanings And Messages In American Culture

Paperback

Condition: Good

Publisher's Synopsis Rich with illustrations Dress Codes systematically analyzes the meaning and relevance of clothing in American culture. Presented here in one book for the first time are theories of clothing and an up-to-date analysis of images of power and authority gender seduction (the sexy look the alluring look the glamorous look the vulnerable look) wealth and beauty youth and health and leisure and political hierarchy. Taken together the chapters offer to the student and the general reader a complete semiotics of clothing in a form that is highly readable very entertaining and thoroughly informative. The illustrations provide fascinating glimpses into the history of American fashion and clothingalong with their antecedents in Europeas well as a fine collection of images from the more familiar world of contemporary America. }Rich with illustrations Dress Codes systematically analyzes the meaning and relevance of clothing in American here in one book for the first time are theories of clothing and an up-to-date analysis of images of power and authority gender seduction (the sexy look the alluring look the glamorous look the vulnerable look) wealth and beauty youth and health and leisure and political hierarchy. Taken together the chapters offer to the student and the general reader a complete semiotics of clothing in a form that is highly readable very entertaining and thoroughly informative. The illustrations provide fascinating glimpses into the history of American fashion and clothingalong with their antecedents in Europeas well as a fine collection of images from the more familiar world of contemporary ten years of teaching and research Rubinstein has identified six distinct categories of dress in American society upon which Dress Codes is signs have only one meaning and are instituted by those in authority as required attire (police uniform nuns attire); clothing symbols which have several meanings and involve individual choice (designer clothing jewelry); clothing tie-signs which are specific types of clothing that indicate membership in a community outside mainstream culture (Hasidic Amish or Hare Krishna attire); clothing tie-symbols which act as a means of broader social affiliation emanating especially from fears hopes and dreams (Save the Earth clothing Pro-Choice T-shirts Madonnas crosses); personal dress which refers to the I component we bring in when dressing the public self (bowtie dramatic or artistic attire); and contemporary fashion which is the interaction between political and economic events and consumer sentiments involving public in a lively and entertaining style Dress Codes will fascinate both general readers and students interested in the history of fashion and costume fashion design human development and gender studies. }