Redressing Fashion

Welcome back to Redressing Fashion! It’s been way too long, as life has been life-ing a bit too hard for me recently. But I’m back with an episode I’ve been wanting to create for ages, inspired by the shift in my career. Since leaving my academic post a few months ago and embracing personal style coaching, I’ve realized I’ve become my clients’ personal fashion anthropologist.Today, I’m bringing five core definitions of fashion theory out of the classroom and linking them back to the mundane, practical, actionable aspects of getting dressed. I cover theories that explore fashion as a situated bodily practice, a practice of assemblage, a system of signs, an articulation of our fluid identities, and the cultural construction of the embodied identity.At a more personal level, I dive into how we can consciously use fashion’s capacity as language and construction to shape our relationships with the world and determine how we are perceived. The ultimate lesson is that fashion is not about achieving a specific look or following trends, but about self-expression, self-empowerment, and feeling so good from the inside out that you inevitably look good.👗 Find out more about style coaching: https://laurabelru.com/style/ -----------------REFERENCES 📚Fashion Theory. https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rfft20. Barthes, Roland. The Language of Fashion*. Edited by Andy Stafford and Michael Carter. Translated by Andy Stafford. Editions du Seuil, 2004. Reprint, Bloomsbury, 2013.Entwistle, Joanne. “Fashion and Fleshy Body: Dress as Embodied Practice.” Fashion Theory 4, no. 3 (2000): 323–48.Kaiser, Susan B. and Denise Nichole Green. Fashion and cultural studies*. Bloomsbury, 2021.Lurie, Alison. The Language of Clothes. Henry Holt, 2000.Woodward, Sophie. “‘Humble’ Blue Jeans: Material Culture Approaches to Understanding the Ordinary, Global, and the Personal.” In Fashion Studies: Research Methods, Sites and Practices*, edited by Heike Jenss. Bloomsbury, 2016.-----------------RELEVANT LINKS 💡Life updates:- Newsletter: “The world is burning and all I think about is fashion” - https://laurabelru.com/the-world-is-burning-and-all-i-think-about-is-fashion/- Video: “A very belated update” - https://youtu.be/SbyPQjICPEE Podcast episode: “Fashion, ecology, and plastic-free living with Dr Georgia Ennis” - https://laurabelru.com/fashion-ecology-and-plastic-free-living-with-dr-georgia-ennis/ ------------WORK WITH ME 🧚🏻‍♀️👗 Style coaching: https://laurabelru.com/style/🎙️ Speaking and guest lecturing: https://laurabelru.com/speaker/👩🏻‍🏫 Writing, editing, research, and other academic support: https://laurabelru.com/contact/------------STAY IN TOUCH 🌹 ✨ Redressing Fashion (blog & podcast): https://laurabelru.com/redressing-fashion/📧 Substack: https://laurabelru.substack.com/📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabelru 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurabelru📽️ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laurabelru

In this solo episode, I discuss the importance of mindful shopping, especially during the holiday season. I emphasize the freedom of choice in shopping and the impact that each of our shopping habits can have on the world around us—immediately and more broadly. I talk about the reasons for wanting to shop (or not), the significance of budgeting and planning ahead, and share a few practical strategies for shopping more mindfully. I also talk about gifting, touching on some history, the emotional aspects of gift giving, and propose the idea of reclaiming gift-giving as a sacred practice.The episode is meant to be a tool for listeners to reflect on their shopping habits and consider the broader implications of their purchases. And, if you ask me, it’s full of gems!RELEVANT LINKSAdventures in de-styling: https://destyling.substack.com/ Blog - Unshopping on Black Friday: https://destyling.substack.com/p/issue-2-unshopping-on-black-friday Blog from 2023 on Holiday Shopping: https://laurabelru.com/fashion-practices-on-holiday-shopping/ Style coaching program: https://laurabelru.com/style/ Find me on:https://www.instagram.com/laurabelru https://www.tiktok.com/@laurabelru https://www.youtube.com/@laurabelru -----------------TAKEAWAYSGifting is important and should be meaningful.Mindful giving can reduce waste.Many gifts end up in the trash shortly after purchase.Encouraging thoughtful gifts can lead to better choices.Consumerism often leads to meaningless gifts.Mindful gifting reflects personal values.Sustainable giving is a growing trend.Gifts should resonate with the recipient.Awareness of waste can change gifting habits.Mindful gifting can foster deeper connections.

This episode is a recording after my Keynote Lecture for the Costumers of Color 2025 Georgian Global Salon. The lecture sheds light on some underrepresented histories of fashion in the eighteenth century. The talk explores how the diversity of fashion practices among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color around the world shaped fashion in the Georgian era. In an increasingly globalized century, fashion became both a form of resistance and an expression of changing, often hybrid, and increasingly complex human and cultural identities.My most special thanks to Gigi Coulson of Costumers of Color for allowing me to share this lecture and everyone who attended the event for their thoughtful feedback, support and enthusiasm!Learn more about the Costumers of Color Global Salon at: https://costumersofcolor.org/2025-annual-event/.------------------------------Chapters00:00 Introduction01:30 The Other Georgian Fashion09:33 Context: The Georgian Period14:44 Georgian Fashion: An Overview20:46 Imperial Fashions in the Georgian Era31:09 Fashions from the Periphery46:21 Closing Remarks------------------------------Relevant links & referencesWaitlist for upcoming fashion history trips: https://laurabelru.com/travel/Costumers of Color: https://costumersofcolor.org/Image references, including links and credits: https://laurabelru.com/the-other-story-of-georgian-fashion-costumers-of-color-global-salon-keynote-lecture/------------------------------More about LauraVisit my website: ⁠https://laurabelru.com/⁠Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabelruFind me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurabelruSign up to my newsletter: ⁠https://laurabelru.substack.com/

In celebration of the back-to-school season, Dr. Laura Beltrán-Rubio discusses the need to redress fashion history education by incorporating diverse perspectives and personal narratives, while also emphasizing the significance of engaging students’ passions and values in their learning process. The conversation highlights various strategies for educators to create a more inclusive and meaningful fashion curriculum.This is not a fashion history podcast nor a practical note on fashion and style, but it has bits and pieces of both. While this is intended for mostly fashion educators and students, I also hope it will be relevant to those who are not fashion students or educators or are not returning to fashion school this year.Special thanks to Katie Ibsen, Serena Dyer, Jonathan Square, and Kimberly Jenkins for their generous contributions to this episode!Chapters00:00 Reflecting on Fashion Education04:58 Dismantling the Fashion History Survey09:33 Making History Personal12:02 Redressing Fashion History15:47 Engaging and Personal Histories22:30 Antidotes to AI26:00 Outside the History Classroom27:55 Personal Style and Fashion Scholarship32:12 Third Spaces for Fashion in Schools35:20 Three Little ThingsTakeaways- Critical thinking should precede reliance on AI tools.- Fashion education needs to reflect diverse cultural narratives.- Personal style development is a continuous journey.- Engaging students' passions is crucial for effective learning.- Redressing fashion history involves questioning traditional narratives.- Diversity in fashion education enhances student engagement.- Fashion history should include non-Western perspectives.- Teaching strategies should adapt to student backgrounds.- Fashion education can foster personal and social values.Meet the scholars (in order of mention/appearance)Professor Hazel Clark: https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/faculty/hazel-clark/Katie Ibsen: https://www.katieibsen.com/Dr Serena Dyer: https://www.serenadyer.co.uk/Dr Jonathan Square: https://www.jonathansquare.com/Kimberly Jenkins: https://www.kimberlymjenkins.com/Relevant links & referencesFashion Education: The Systemic Revolution: https://www.intellectbooks.com/fashion-education Learn about the history of boteh: https://fashionandrace.org/database/boteh/Join my group style coaching program: https://laurabelru.com/style/ More about LauraVisit my website: ⁠https://laurabelru.com/⁠Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabelruFind me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurabelruSign up to my newsletter: ⁠https://laurabelru.substack.com/

In the first interview of Redressing Fashion, Laura interviews Faith Cooper about her research on Asian fashion and her work behind the digital project, Asian Fashion Archive. They talk about cultural identity in fashion, some of Faith’s favorite aspects about Asian fashion, and how to redress fashion from Asian perspectives.About Faith:Faith Cooper is the creator of the digital resource project Asian Fashion Archive. Currently, she is participating in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program studying Brand and Fashion Management at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. Previously she taught the Cross Cultural Expressions of Fashion and Dress course at the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked in the education department at The Museum at FIT. In addition to her experience working in fashion education, Faith’s past professional experience includes working at Christie’s, Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vogue, and International Condé Nast. Faith holds a master's degree in Fashion and Textile Studies and a bachelor's degree in Art History and Museum Professions, both from the Fashion Institute of Technology.Asian Fashion Archive website: https://asianfashionarchive.com/home Asian Fashion Archive on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianfashionarchive About Faith Cooper: https://www.faithtcooper.com/ Relevant links & references:Fu Jen Catholic University Chinese Textiles and Clothing Culture Center in Taiwan: https://ctccc.tc.fju.edu.tw/Guo Pei exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum: https://www.nhb.gov.sg/acm/whats-on/exhibitions/guo-pei Book – Fashion, Identity, and Power in Modern Asia edited by Kyunghee Pyun and Aida Yuen Wong (2018)Book – Rethinking Fashion Globalization edited by Sarah Cheang, Erica de Greef, and Yoko Takagi (2021)Book – The Japanese Revolution in Paris Fashion by Yuniya Kawamura (2004)Book – Fashioning Japanese Subcultures by Yuniya Kawamura (2013)—Visit Laura’s blog: https://laurabelru.com/Find me on social media: @laurabelru & @redressingfashionSign up to my newsletter: https://laurabelru.substack.com/

In this solo episode, Laura Beltrán-Rubio reflects on her summer experiences, the challenges of navigating burnout in academia and the fashion industry, and the importance of reconnecting with personal style. She shares insights from her travels, research collaborations in Colombia, and the impact of recent conferences on her work. The episode emphasizes the need for questioning existing narratives in fashion and education, and encourages listeners to take meaningful actions to redress the fashion system.—Mentioned in the episode:Loose thoughts: Fighting burnout as decolonizationFashion Education: The Systemic Revolution* edited by Ben Barry and Deborah A. ChristelThe Golden Thread* by Kassia St ClairOn Savage Shores* by Caroline Dodds PennockLove Requires Chocolate* by Ravynn K StringfieldHigher Self Habits* by Alessia Citro—Visit my website: https://laurabelru.com/Find me on social media: @laurabelru Join Redressing Fashion book club: https://laurabelru.com/rfc/*Links marked with an asterisk contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission from applicable purchases.

In this episode, Laura shares some of her initial ideas on what it means to redress fashion from a historical perspective. This episode combines a presentation she gave at the Chicago Fashion Lyceum in 2020 with her Ph.D. dissertation and a 2022 published essay. You’ll hear about the separate definitions that we are often given for “fashion,” “costume,” and “dress” and be left with reflection prompts that question the need for such separate categories and the close relationship between categorization and colonialist dynamics.Relevant links & references (in order of appearance):Join Laura’s Re/dressing Fashion Book Club: https://patreon.com/laurabelru/ Portrait of Doña María Catalina de Urrutia by José Campeche at The Hispanic Society of America: https://hispanicsociety.org/exhibition/current-exhibitions-works-on-loan/treasures-on-the-terrace_highlights-from-the-hispanic-society-museum-and-library/dona-maria/ Margaret Maynard’s Fashioned from Penury: Dress as Cultural Practice in Colonial Australia (1994): https://search.worldcat.org/title/29031387 Instagram Reel with Dr Hilary Davidson’s comment: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2LpDf0p5PI/--Visit my blog: https://laurabelru.com/Find me on social media: @laurabelru & @redressingfashionSign up to my email list: https://laurabelru.myflodesk.com/email-signup