Dress

Abstract

In this chapter we introduce dress and immediately distinguish it from fashion. Fashion, it is suggested is about impression and focuses upon broad macro issues relating to the fashion industry; whereas, dress is more micro focused and possesses the potential to examine depth. Our interest here is to explore the aesthetics of meaning through appearance and dress provides this opportunity. Therefore, we argue in this chapter, that the presentation of dress will draw upon our understandings of how and why we communicate before different types of audience. This involves drawing upon communication theory and appreciating that the guise of an audience will influence how dress communicates. This discussion extends in a number of directions to include considerations regarding expression and style. The chapter concludes with a short discussion of these issues in terms of fine art.