[PDF] L'Arpa tra Cinquecento e Seicento (Italian Edition) by Valentina Rodi in Arts-Photography

Description

As Deirdre Clemente shows in this lively history of fashion on American college campuses; whether its jeans and sneakers or khakis with a polo shirt; chances are college kids made it cool. The modern casual American wardrobe; Clemente argues; was born in the classrooms; dormitories; fraternity and sorority houses; and gyms of universities and colleges across the country. As young people gained increasing social and cultural clout during the early twentieth century; their tastes transformed mainstream fashion from collared and corseted to comfortable. From east coast to west and from the Ivy League to historically black colleges and universities; changing styles reflected new ways of defining the value of personal appearance; and; by extension; new possibilities for creating ones identity. The pace of change in fashion options; however; was hardly equal. Race; class; and gender shaped the adoption of casual style; and young women faced particular backlash both from older generations and from their male peers. Nevertheless; as coeds fought dress codes and stereotypes; they joined men in pushing new styles beyond the campus; into dance halls; theaters; homes; and workplaces. Thanks to these shifts; todays casual style provides a middle ground for people of all backgrounds; redefining the meaning of appearance in American culture.