The Latest Costume Journal Has Arrived!

16 October 2022, by ALEXANDRA KIM AND CHRISTINE STEVENS

In this week's blog, Costume Editors Alexandra Kim and Christine Stevens introduce the latest Costume volume 56 issue 2.

This issue will appear in late 2022, in a third year of Covid 19, and as we write, we hope that both the pandemic and the many restrictions it has brought will have receded.  Throughout the pandemic researchers throughout the world have found ways to study dress and seek out fascinating collections and new aspects of fashion history and development. We are, as ever, very keen to receive submissions from any of our readers with a story to tell. Our publishers, Edinburgh University Press, have gathered together on their website many pages of advice for those new to research as well as the particular guidelines for authors wishing to publish in Costume. Articles can be submitted to the editors at any time.

We are pleased to include in this volume the second part of David Wilcox’s work on Byron’s dress, which looks at his later life and years in Europe, and includes detailed analysis of both documentary materials and surviving items of clothing. There are also articles from Poland, the United States and the world of women’s golf. An unexpected subject from Małgorzata Możdżyńska-Nawotka concerns a wedding uchikake kimono from the collection of the National Museum in Kraków and its representation by various artists. David Lazaro has contributed a fascinating story of the creation and development of a museum collection. Although many will be familiar with the well-known collection at Historic Deerfield, they may not be aware of the founder Helen Geier Flynt and her fascination with eighteenth-century dress.  Lauren Beatty and Fiona Skillen have collaborated on a study of the development of golfing dress for women up to 1935, based to a large extent on the archival and material collections at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s museum at St Andrews.

We also include Anna Buruma’s extensive listing of new books which demonstrates once again the number and variety of publications which exist within our field. Many thanks to Anna and also to Charlotte Nicklas who has pulled together the reviews section once again in difficult circumstances. Our grateful thanks also are proffered to former editor and past chairman Valerie Cumming who has performed the sad task of writing the obituary to Anne Thomas, a quiet but ever-present supporter of the Society from its first days and who will be particularly remembered by many members for her organizational contribution to conferences, study days and overseas tours.

We would also like to remind readers that electronic access to the journal is through the Edinburgh University Press website. Members of the Costume Society receive copies of the journal as part of their membership (to become a member click here), and access to EUP’s archive of Costume by logging on to the members’ area of the Costume Society website.