Histoire Culturelle de la Mode

Author: Marco Belfanti

Publishing House: Editions IFM/Regard

Publication Date: September 2014

Description : Today, the domination of fashion has never had such an influence on the tastes of individuals and, therefore, on the economic choices that make it the matrix force of consumer society. But has fashion always existed? Or is it a new phenomenon in history? From what time on did men give in to the whims of novelties?

The Cultural History of Fashion underlines the interest of reflecting on its origins, an undertaking sometimes considered superfluous and marginal, sometimes as completed with the identification of the birth of fashion in the 14th century.

This book reveals the roots of fashion, which has become one of the major institutions of modern Europe and capitalism, as part of the process of civilization and the cult of good manners. To confront the cultural genealogy of fashion is to put into perspective its appearance, its eventual industrialisation, as well as its recent evolution, while outlining its future.

This book was produced with the support of the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation.