Fashion

Fashion does not exist in a vacuum. Its history is one that is intertwined with art, culture, industrial and social change and a century of revolution. To understand this is fundamental to anyone wanting to work in the contemporary fashion industry, be it as a designer, curator, stylist or writer.

This course will provide the essentials in understanding the history and theory of fashion, from the intricate details and terminologies of Tudor and Elizabethan costume to the whirlwind of 20th century styles that inform designers working today. These historical tropes are often the references that are used by creatives working today, and will form an inspiring part of an education in fashion and the arts at large.

It will be centered on visits to some of the best institutions and galleries, including a historic Royal palace, workshops with surviving historical costume and talks on the chronology and themes of fashion in a historical and artistic context, its place in pop culture and the detailed relationship that fashion has with London as a city of trade, production and industrial revolution.