ARTBOOK BLOG

RECENT POSTS

DATE 4/25/2024

The Strand presents Joshua Charow launching 'Loft Law'

DATE 4/21/2024

Time & Space Limited presents "Memory as Various: Bernadette Mayer's 'Memory'"

DATE 4/13/2024

Unnameable Books presents "Reading from Bernadette Mayer's 'Memory'"

DATE 3/31/2024

Behold the photographic work of Jay DeFeo, born OTD in 1929

DATE 3/30/2024

Seminary Co-op presents the Chicago launch of Danny Lyon's 'This Is My Life I'm Talking About'

DATE 3/23/2024

On view now! 'Surrealism and Us'

DATE 3/20/2024

Sublime punk protest in 'Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot's Russia'

DATE 3/15/2024

A gorgeous and compelling new exploration of bodega culture from rising star, Tschabalala Self

DATE 3/15/2024

Vintage girl power in ‘Las Mexicanas’

DATE 3/14/2024

Celebrate Pi Day with 'Einstein: The Man and His Mind'

DATE 3/12/2024

Kindred Stores presents Anita N. Bateman on 'Where is Africa'

DATE 3/12/2024

Hot book alert! ‘God Made My Face’ is NEW from Dancing Foxes Press and Brooklyn Museum

DATE 3/11/2024

Artbook @ MoMA PS1 presents the launch of 'Richard Nonas'


AT FIRST SIGHT

ELEANOR STREHL | DATE 9/30/2009

Fashion at the Time of Fascism
From Damiani, 2009

Last week saw the arrival of a new title from the Italian publisher Damiani, Fashion at the Time of Fascism. This book has been much anticipated because of its provocative concept, aided by a catchy title. One is of course curious to see how the editors address the potentially controversial notion of putting fascism on display. The answer is: with impeccable neutrality.
The book is an exploration of the mutual influence of Mussolini’s fascist government and the producers of Italian culture and fashion between the years of 1922 and 1943, the results of which are uncomfortably yet undeniably pleasing to the eye. We see page after page of lovely brunettes in elegantly draped garments or smart suits with sculptural caps perched over their immaculate curls.
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
The book is organized thematically under very general subject headers that encompass the process of fashion from conception through production to display. The subject titles are more evocative than definitive: “Measurement,” “Model,” “Mark” and “Parade.” Within each general subject category every related association that occurred to the editors Mario Lupano and Alessandra Vaccari is documented with a two-page spread or two of period photographs and ephemera.
For example, the “Measurement” section which covers the nuts and bolts of clothing production contains spreads with titles like “Zip,” “Paper-Patterns,” “Fitting” and “Rationing.”
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
The images predominate, largely speaking for themselves with assistance from exhaustive but unobtrusive captions. Essays expanding on the ideas raised by the images are kept to a minimum, taking up a column of space here and there. The informality of the presentation makes what could otherwise be an intimidatingly large and weighty tome (literally and figuratively—the book is the product of three years of research and clocks in at four pounds) a pleasure to pick up and flip through.
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
Fashion at the Time of Fascism
Fashion at the Time of Fascism

Fashion at the Time of Fascism

Fashion at the Time of Fascism

Damiani
Hbk, 9.5 x 12 in. / 400 pgs / 700 color.