Professor Marilyn DeLong
College of Human Ecology
University of Minnesota
mdelong@che.umn.edu
TBA
What Goes Around Comes Around
A historical perspective reveals intriguing similarities in appearances that occurred in 20th century United States. A retrospective examination of the holdings of the Goldstein Museum of Design provides insight into the cyclical nature of fashion. Fashion by definition involves change but also the tension of retaining the familiar along with an insatiable desire for wearing what is new. If fashion is indeed cyclical, this means that what goes around does come around. There is a rhythm to fashion, an ebb and flow. Themes explored through these artifacts will be images and icons, look-a-likes, retro fashion and recycling. Icons of the 20th century have sprung from toys, entertainers, musicians, and athletes. Individuals who aspire to be like others by adopting their look often cross boundaries of gender and age. Particular examples such as platform shoes in the 'Goldstein' will illustrate the aesthetic of recycling and retro fashion. The theme, look-a-likes, encompasses the idea of retro fashion and the replay of repeated similarities of a classic image we have come to recognize and value.
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