Fashion-ology: An Introduction to Fashion Studies (Dress, Body, Culture)

This book provides a concise and much-needed introduction to the sociology of fashion. Most studies of fashion do not make a clear distinction between clothing and fashion. Kawamura argues that clothing is a tangible material product whereas fashion is a symbolic cultural product. Content: Preliminaries; Contents; 1 Introduction; 2 Sociological Discourse and Empirical; 3 Fashion as an Institutionalized System; 4 Designers: The Personification of Fashion; 5 Production, Gatekeeping and Diffusion of Fashion; 6 Adoption and Consumption of Fashion; 7 Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index. Abstract: Yuniya Kawamura provides a concise and much-needed introduction to the sociology of fashion. She argues that clothing is a tangible material product whereas fashion is a symbolic cultural product. She also debunks the myth of 'the genius designer' explaining that fashion is not about clothes but is a belief. Read more... This Book Provides A Concise And Much-needed Introduction To The Sociology Of Fashion. Most Studies Do Not Make A Clear Distinction Between Clothing And Fashion. Kawamura Argues That Clothing Is A Tangible Product Whereas Fashion Is A Symbolic Cultural Product. She Debunks The Myth Of The Genius Designer And Explains That Fashion Is Not About Clothes But Is A Belief. There Is An Institutional Structure, Ignored By Many Fashion Theorists, That Has Shaped And Produced The Fashion Phenomenon. Kawamura Further Shows How The Structural Nature Of The Fashion System Works To Legitimize Designers' Creativity And Can Make Them Successful. Newer Fashion Cities, Such As Milan And New York, Are The Product Of The Fashion System That Originated In Paris. Without That Systemic Structure, Fashion Culture Would Not Exist. Http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/hol053/2004023162.html. Acknowledgments Ix -- 1 Introduction 1 -- Etymology Of Fashion 3 -- Fashion As A Concept And A Phenomenon 4 -- Proponents And Opponents Of Fashion 6 -- Studies Of Fashion In Social Science 13 -- Outline Of The Book 18 -- 2 Sociological Discourse And Empirical -- Studies Of Fashion 19 -- Classical Sociological Discourse Of Fashion 20 -- Fashion, Modernity And Social Mobility 24 -- The Origin Of Fashion Phenomenon 26 -- Contemporary Sociological Studies Of Fashion 28 -- Fashion And Sociology Of Culture 32 -- Fashion As A Manufactured Cultural Symbol 33 -- Conclusion 37 -- 3 Fashion As An Institutionalized System 39 -- Theoretical Framework Of Fashion-ology 40 -- Fashion As A Myth Supported By The System 43 -- Different Approaches To Fashion Systems 45 -- The Beginning Of The Fashion System 49 -- Fashion Production As Collective Activity 50 --empirical Study: The French Fashion System As A Prototype 52 -- Conclusion 55 -- 4 Designers: The Personification Of Fashion 57 -- Designers In The Studies Of Fashion 58 -- Designers, Creativity And Social Structure 60 -- Legitimation Of Designer's Creativity 63 -- The Star System Of Designers 64 -- Hierarchy Among Designers In The Fashion System 70 -- Conclusion 72 -- 5 Production, Gatekeeping And Diffusion Of Fashion 73 -- Diffusion Theories Of Fashion 74 -- Gatekeepers: Making Aesthetic Judgments 79 -- Diffusion Strategies From Fashion Dolls To Fashion Shows 82 -- Fashion Propaganda Through Advertising 86 -- Conclusion 88 -- 6 Adoption And Consumption Of Fashion 89 -- Consumption: A Historical Perspective 90 -- Consuming Fashion As Symbolic Strategy 94 -- Consumption And Social Status 95 -- Consumers In Modern And Postmodern Times 98 -- Conclusion 103 -- 7 Conclusion 105 -- Notes 107 -- Bibliography 109 -- Index 121. Yuniya Kawamura. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 109-119) And Index. Beskrivelse: This book provides a concise and much-needed introduction to the sociology of fashion. Most studies of fashion do not make a clear distinction between clothing and fashion. Kawamura argues that clothing is a tangible material product whereas fashion is a symbolic cultural product. She debunks the myth of the genius designer and explains, provocatively, that fashion is not about clothes but is a belief. There is an institutional structure, ignored by many fashion theorists, that has shaped and produced the fashion phenomenon. Kawamura further shows how the structural nature of the fashion system works to legitimize designers creativity and can make them successful. Newer fashion cities, such as Milan and New York, are the product of the fashion system that originated in Paris. Without that systemic structure, fashion culture would not exist. Fashion-ology provides a big picture approach that focuses on the social process behind fashion and its perpetuation This book provides [an] introduction to the sociology of fashion. Most studies do not make a clear distinction between clothing and fashion. [In the book, the author] argues that clothing is a tangible product whereas fashion is a symbolic cultural product. She debunks the myth of "the genius designer" and explains that fashion is not about clothes but is a belief. There is an institutional structure, ignored by many fashion theorists, that has shaped and produced the fashion phenomenon. [She also] shows how the structural nature of the fashion system works to legitimize designers' creativity and can make them successful. Newer fashion cities, such as Milan and New York, are the product of the fashion system that originated in Paris. Without that systemic structure, fashion culture would not exist

Fashion-ology is not concerned with dress or clothing, explains Kawamura (sociology, State U. of New York-Fashion Institute of Technology), but is a sociological investigation of fashion as a system of institutions that produces the concept as well as the phenomenon and practice of fashion. It also studies the social production process of the belief in fashion that exists in people's minds and that begins to have a substance and life of its own. She surveys the various approaches to it and the methods used with each. Distributed in the US by Palgrave Macmillan. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR