Fashion Icons: Fashion Trends throughout the Centuries

Image of Fashion Icons: Fashion Trends Throughout the Centuries
Author(s): 
Release Date: 
January 16, 2013
Pages: 
160
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“. . . a most atypical fashion book with a totally different slant on ‘la mode’ . . .”

Right from the start the reader will realize that the title, Fashion Icons: Fashion Trends Throughout the Centuries, is extremely misleading.

Part of this might be that we Americans associate the label icon with a personality rather than an object. Ms. Demeester has assigned icon status to The Corset, The Bra, High Heels, The Mini Skirt, The Dress, Trousers/Trouser Suit, and Accessories—also the names of each of the segments/chapters of the book.

With each chapter/segment is a brief albeit very strange history of each item. But this history is not always historically accurate or as compelling as it might be if more convincing examples had been used to illustrate the trajectory of each article of clothing. Preceding each of these histories or explanations is supposedly the “feminist view” concerning how this item is seen. Sound confusing? It is.

To complicate matters even further, Ms. Demeester makes sweeping generalizations and uses many inaccuracies to bolster her point of view and to support her unique feminist view. It is possible that if one were more of a sociologist rather than a “fashionologist,” one might find this juxtaposition of the two approaches intriguing. But a truly informed and seasoned fashion reader will take issue with the theory and certainly with most of the designers chosen to support this sort of treatise. Not to mention that Ms. Demeester uses some mighty outdated thinking to “prove” her point.

What might occur to the reader, depending on their framework of knowledge, is that many if not all of these so called “icons” haven been fetishized throughout history, which sort of puts a distinctly sexual tilt on the book, but that is never really expounded upon or developed and probably would have made the book much more interesting.

But for a feminist to ignore the sexual undertones seems, well, neutered.

If you are looking for a most atypical fashion book with a totally different slant on “la mode,” then why not?