EDFD207 Fashion History II 3 cr.

In the second half of Fashion History, this course explores the glamorous fashions of the Rococo period. Magnificent architecture, artworks, and portraits painted by English and French artists set the tone for the early part of the course. Rigid garments are a reflection of the social structure and class system that will come undone with the rise of the French Revolution. “The Age of Napoleon” (or French Empire as it is more typically known) will be depicted in all of its contrived glory by Jacques Louis David in paintings elevating the newly formed French court in 1804. This course will also cover the rise of the new middle class, the elongated and romantic span of the Victorian era (1837-1901), and the development of machinery to speed up textile production, mechanical looms, and the sewing machine. The changes in masculine and feminine roles will also play a part in the reaction to fashion for the people who lived in those times. Paris, as the new center of fashion with the development of the French Couture and the designer salon, will be examined from the 1850’s to the 1960’s. Art, culture, music, and the “Silver Screen” will provide a backdrop for the direction of fashion throughout the twentieth century.

Lecture/Seminar
Culturally Diverse Content
All College Elective