Cultural Sociology of Fashion: On the Sartorial, Symbolic and Social

This chapter reviews sociological and cultural studies of sartorial fashion from the late 19th century to today. Focussing on three areas - theoretical and empirical definitions and understandings of fashion, fashion production systems and the creation of symbolic value, and everyday uses of fashion - the chapter recognises concurrent themes and novel developments, and also suggests areas upon which more attention should be paid in the future. These include the globalization of fashion systems, global inequalities in both fashion industry and fashion studies, and the materiality of dress and fashion.

Almila co-edited The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Sociology.

About this book:

Cultural sociology - or the sociology of culture - has grown from a minority interest in the 1970s to become one of the largest and most vibrant areas within sociology globally. In The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Sociology, a global range of experts explore the theory, methodology and innovations that make up this ever-expanding field.