Why We Wear Clothes: The Functions of Fashion

Serving up loads of thought-provoking detail in a relatively brief running time, Why We Wear Clothes examines clothing's functional, individual, and cultural roles, looking at the many reasons behind the way people dress, including comfort, profession, climate, social significance, and self-image. Choice of clothes may reflect how a person is feeling (physically or emotionally), or their general outlook (trendy vs. conservative style), while colors add further clues (thanks to chemical and technological advances, clothes come in a veritable rainbow of colors). Also exploring the history of clothing (from animal skins to the mass production spurred by the Industrial Revolution); effects of design, marketing, and merchandising; and examples of dress code (including those denoting hierarchy, such as kitchen staff, or group identity, as with military personnel), this well-made program features lots of onscreen vocabulary and helpful recaps following each section. Sure to spark discussion, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, P. (J. Williams-Wood)