HIST 339 - “Naturally Chic”: Fashion, Gender, and Nationalism in French History

3 Credit(s) | Lecture | Graded (includes P/F option)
Not repeatable for credit

Description:
Every piece of clothing we wear has a history, and much of that history can be traced back to France. How did fashion become so entwined with France’s politics, economics, and culture? This course will trace fashion’s French history, looking at subjects like Marie Antoinette’s legendary frivolousness, fashion and war, the rise of the designer, clothing and labor, and how ordinary people have wielded clothing as a mode of self-expression. The class will also examine contemporary questions facing the fashion industry, like cultural appropriation and fast fashion. Through these explorations, we will discover how fashion mirrors French history—and how we play a role in fashion history ourselves.

Enrollment Requirements:
Prerequisite: ENGL 102

Semester(s) typically offered: Fall and Spring

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