Fashion Criticism

This is the first anthology of fashion criticism, a growing field that has been too long overlooked. Fashion Criticism aims to redress the balance, claiming a place for writing on fashion alongside other more well-established areas of criticism on popular culture. Exploring the history of fashion criticism, this essential work takes us from the so-called 'women's section' of 19th century newspapers to the work of Bill Cunningham in The New York Times , and from early Vogue features to the multi-media platform work of SHOWstudio. Examining the gender dynamics of the field and its historical association with the feminine, Fashion Criticism demonstrates how fashion has gained ground as a subject of critical analysis, capitalizing on the centrality of dress and clothing in an increasingly visual, digital world. Bringing together two centuries of previously uncollected articles and writings, from Oscar Wilde's editorial's in Women's World to the ground-breaking fashion journalism of the 1980s and today's proliferation of fashion bloggers, it will be an essential resource for students of fashion studies, media and journalism.