Fashion under socialism

The relationship between dress and Socialism started in Soviet Russia following the 1917 Communist Revolution. When Soviet-style Socialism was introduced in East Europe in 1948, dress became an important ideological and practical issue in the countries under Soviet political control. However, the styles of garments, and the discourses in which they were embedded, were not homogeneous in the Soviet Union and the East European countries during the seventy-two years of Communist rule. Both similarities and differences between them were informed by each country’s political, economic, and social organization. Differences in dress and dress-related practices were informed by a more or less dogmatic implementation of Communist ideology. Differences also related to Soviet Russia’s turn to Socialism in 1917, after which it went through a series of very different Socialist practices, from Leninism through the New Economic Policy (NEP) and its reintroduction of semicapitalism, to Stalinism, even before World War II. During that historical period, dress bowed to different aesthetics, from utopian abstractionism to Socialist realism.

The Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion explores, in 760 articles and 3.6 million words, the dressed and adorned body across cultures and throughout history. Lavishly illustrated with over 2,000 images, it is essential for all students, scholars and practitioners of fashion and textiles, across disciplines. Available in print - as a 10 volume set - and online within the Berg Fashion Library. The Encyclopedia provides: In-depth original articles - from over 600 international experts - on countries, themes, cultural groups, and dress types; Special articles on sources and evidence for each major geographical area; 'Snapshot' articles featuring illuminating examples and case studies; Invaluable bibliographies and suggestions for further reading for each article; Cross-references and an analytical cumulative index.

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