Changing Clothes in China: Fashion, History, Nation

Historians have long regarded fashion as something peculiarly Western, but Antonia Finnane challenges this view by showing that fashions were part of Chinese life in the late imperial era. In the early twentieth century, the key features of modern fashion became evident in Shanghai, and rapidly changing dress styles showed the effects of national politics. Finnane describes how the close-fitting jacket and high collar of the 1911 Revolutionary period, the skirt and jacket-blouse of the May Fourth era, and the military style popular in the Cultural Revolution gave way to the variegated, globalized wardrobe of today. She offers a vivid portrait of the complex, subtle, and sometimes contradictory ways the people of China have worn their nation on their backs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2023
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

For centuries, historians have regarded fashion as a uniquely Western phenomenon. However, in her groundbreaking book, Antonia Finnane challenges this notion, contending that it stems from nineteenth- and twentieth-century representations of Chinese dress as traditional and unchanging. Finnane reveals that fashion played a significant role in Chinese society during the late imperial era, even though a formal fashion industry was not yet apparent. In the early twentieth century, the key elements of modern fashion became increasingly evident, particularly in Shanghai. Rapidly changing dress styles showcased the impact of these developments. The volatility of Chinese dress throughout the twentieth century mirrored the fluctuations in national politics. Finnane delves into the intricate details of how the close-fitting jacket and high collar of the 1911 Revolutionary period, the skirt and jacket-blouse of the May Fourth era, and the military style popular during the Cultural Revolution gradually gave way to the diverse and globalized wardrobe of today. Through her insightful analysis, Finnane establishes a compelling connection between China's modernization and its increasing global visibility, offering a vivid portrayal of the complex, nuanced, and sometimes contradictory ways in which the people of China have worn their nation on their backs.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787387225