About this item
Examining the changing nature of French fashion culture in the eighteenth century, this book explores the relationship between women and commercial culture. The author looks at gender responses to fashion during the period and how clothing was becoming increasingly conceptualised as feminine or effeminate.
The connection between fashion, femininity, frivolity and Frenchness has become a cliche. Yet, relegating fashion to the realm of frivolity and femininity is a distinctly modern belief that developed along with the urban culture of the Enlightenment. In eighteenth-century France, a commercial culture filled with shop girls, fashion magazines and window displays began to supplant a court-based fashion culture based on rank and distinction, stimulating debates over the proper relationship between women and commercial culture, public and private spheres, and morality and taste. Mary Wollstonecraft was one of those particularly critical of this 'vulgar' obsession with 'tawdry finery', declaring it to be 'merely the external mark of a depravity shared with slaves'. The story of how la mode was 'sexed' as feminine offers a compelling insight into the political, economic and cultural tensions that marked the birth of modern commercial culture. Jones examines men's and women's relation to fashion at this time, looking at both consumption and production to argue how clothing was becoming increasingly conceptualized as feminine/effeminate. A concise history of French fashion culture suitable for anyone interested in eighteenth-century culture, women and gender studies or fashion history.
- Author(s):
- Jones, Jennifer M.
- Condition:
- Very good
- Format:
- Paperback
- ISBN-10:
- 1859738354
- Publisher:
- Berg
Delivery & returns
This item will be despatched to UK addresses via second class post within 3 working days of receipt of your order. Standard UK delivery is £3.95 per order, so you're only charged once no matter how many items you have in your basket. Any additional courier charges will be applied at checkout as they vary depending on delivery address.
You can find out more about delivery and returns in our help section.
We offer a no quibble returns policy as follows:
Overseas returns: 31 days
Read full returns policy
This item is also available for international delivery by airmail, carrying a mandatory delivery charge of:
Europe: £5.29
Outside Europe: £9.73
Volunteer listed
Wonder how this unique item ended up online?
Most of the second-hand items you see online have been donated, by supporters like you, to our high street stores. Each item is then priced, photographed and listed on this site by our amazing team of volunteers from across the country.
After you have bought your item, our team of volunteers package and dispatch it from the Shop straight to you or your chosen recipient.
All profits from the sales of our goods go towards funding Oxfam's work around the world. We rely on your donations to sell online so please keep the cycle of goodness going!
To find out more about volunteering with Oxfam, please visit our how to volunteer page.