• Fashion, Dress, Costume: a Proposed Terminological Clarification in the Historical Research of Women’s Clothing (Preprint)

    Author(s):
    Sonia D. Andras (see profile)
    Date:
    2021
    Group(s):
    Cultural Studies, History, Postcolonial Studies
    Subject(s):
    Fashion, Fashion--Study and teaching, History, Research, Romania, Women
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    costume, Dress, Terminology, Fashion studies
    Permanent URL:
    https://doi.org/10.17613/rjpz-hz82
    Abstract:
    This paper delineates the conceptual variations between the notions ‘fashion’, ‘dress’ and ‘costume’ in English-language texts on women’s garment histories using relevant examples from interwar Romanian periodicals. The aim is to offer a more precise formulation, as these three terms have largely been used interchangeably. This paper is built on an interdisciplinary model stemming from fashion studies towards semiotics, sociology and cultural and art history. I define ‘fashion’ as a permanently changing progeny of modernity linked to capitalism and consumerism, but also to modernism and technological progress. ‘Dress’ is a generalised term for clothing worn in a variety of contexts connected more to identity or activity. ‘Costume’ narrows the scope of ‘dress’ to a particular style or outfit suggesting specific markers of social position, occupation or ethnicity and can often be deemed as necessary for admission, recognition or acceptability in certain contexts. ‘Fashion’ would then chiefly apply to cultural studies or history, ‘dress’ to anthropology or sociology and ‘costume’ to ethnology or media and art history. Using interwar Romanian examples, this paper offers a viable terminological clarification regarding genre, subject, scope and usability for historical sartorial themes.
    Notes:
    This is the final version. Access the text as published in the Annual on CEEOL: https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=990316
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. Date:
    3 November 2021
    Journal:
    Yearbook of the \"Gheorghe Şincai\" Institute for Social Sciences and the Humanities of the Romanian Academy
    Issue:
    24
    Page Range:
    194 - 212
    ISSN:
    1454-5284
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    1 year ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
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