>So not only was it
really half a course, but not once was the topic of how modern fashion draws conclusions from historical periods.
I was going to college in a period when modern fashion was drawing very heavily from both folk and historic clothing. The instructors were well aware of that and constantly pointing out how various Paris and NY designers were using and putting together various elements. What was weird about me is that I really wanted to make historic clothing, not just borrow a collar from here and a sleeve from there.
And Carol, anytime actual research methods are employed is a huge benefit to any degree. The world we live in seems to require proof before believing in something. Research provides that.
I was a history major, not a clothing design major (most of the time). Historical research very often does not, in fact, _prove_things. What research does is provide information, often with significant gaps, that can be analyzed, and then a plausible theory can be constructed. Go to a senior seminar, and you can hear 20 students come up with 20 different equally plausible theories based on the same facts, and equally well supported by good arguments. It's very illuminating. This doesn't mean that everyone should collapse in total confusion because interpretations differ. But, history is a social science, not a hard science.
And before I create more mess and drama, I completely agree Laurie that it seems to have turned into the Fashion Design crowd versus the Historical Costume crowd...
I wasn't aware that there was a Fashion Design Crowd here. Fran Lavolta Press Books of historic clothing patterns www.lavoltapress.com _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
