The Aesthetic Economy of Fashion: Markets and Value in Clothing and Modelling (Dress, Body, Culture)

Fashion is bound up with promoting the ‘new’, concerned with constantly changing aesthetics. The favoured styles or looks of a season arise out of the work of a vast range of different actors who collectively produce, select, distribute and promote the new ideals, before moving on to next season. How, then, are fashionable commodities stabilized long enough for them to be selected, distributed and sold? Since there are few studies that actually examine the work that goes on inside the world of fashion, we know little about these processes. This book addresses this gap in our knowledge by examining how aesthetic products are defined, distributed and valued. It focuses attention on the work of some of the market agents, particularly model agents or ‘bookers’ and fashion buyers, shaping the aesthetics inside their markets. In analysing their work, Entwistle develops a theoretical framework for understanding the distinctive features of aesthetic marketplaces and the aesthetic calculations within them.

fashion Is Bound Up With Promoting The New, Concerned With Constantly Changing Aesthetics. The Favored Styles Or Looks Of A Season Arise Out Of The Work Of A Vast Range Of Different Actors Who Collectively Produce, Select, Distribute And Promote The New Ideals, Before Moving On Next Season. If Fashion Is Defined, In Part, By The Incessant Requirement To Be New, This Requirement Means Aesthetic Qualities Are Always In Motion And, Therefore, Unstable. How, Then, Are Fashionable Commodities Stabilized Long Enough For Them To Be Calculated--i.e., Selected, Distributed And Sold--by Those Critically Placed Inside The Fashion System? Since There Are Few Studies That Actually Examine The Work That Goes On Inside The World Of Fashion We Know Little About These Processes.

fashion And The Cultural Economy Addresses This Gap In Our Knowledge By Examining How Aesthetic Products Are Defined, Distributed And Valued. It Focuses Attention On The Work Of Some Of The Market Agents, In Particular Model Agents Or Bookers And Fashion Buyers, Shaping The Aesthetics Inside Their Markets. In Analyzing Their Work, Entwistle Develops A Theoretical Framework For Understanding The Distinctive Features Of Aesthetic Marketplaces And The Aesthetic Calculations Within Them.

Contents Acknowledgements 1 Introduction Part I Understanding Aesthetic Markets 2 An Aesthetic Marketplace: Assembling ‘Economy’ and ‘Culture’ 3 The Aesthetic Economy: The Production of Value in the Field of Fashion Modelling Part II Fashion Buying: A Case Study 4 Introduction to Case Study 5 Understanding High Fashion: Retailing and Buying 6 Markets in Motion: Fashion Temporality and Materiality 7 Tacit Aesthetic Knowledge: The Fashion Sense and Sensibility of Fashion Buyers 8 The Cultural Economy of Fashion Buying Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index Introduction -- An Aesthetic Marketplace : Assembling Economy And Culture -- The Aesthetic Economy : The Production Of Value In The Field Of Fashion Modelling -- Introduction To Case Study -- Understanding High Fashion : Retailing And Buying -- Markets In Motion : Fashion Temporality And Materiality -- Tacit Aesthetic Knowledge : The Fashion Sense And Sensibility Of Fashion Buyers -- The Cultural Economy Of Fashion Buying. Joanne Entwistle. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.