Fashion Theories

Fashion as a field of study is often overlooked. During this event, AMFI students hope to fill that gap by presenting topics of sprawling variety that span international customs, bodily expressions of fashion and cultural norms. The aim is to bring the lens of fashion analysis to the forefront of the conversation, rather than leaving it as an afterthought. Our guest student speakers have studied in depth cultural research from philosophical, historical and marketing standpoints and found their own personal fashion insights.

About the speakers

Mees van Deventer is a fourth year AMFI student, studying Fashion and Branding. Her interest in film and horror has fuelled her topic ‘Body Horror Fashion’. “In my paper I used psychoanalyst Julia Kristeva’s theory of abjection and anthropologist Mary Douglas’ notion of “Dirt is matter out of place” to investigate fashion inspired by Body Horror. I examined how Body Horror Fashion confronts us with our own fleshiness and refuse, and how this confrontation blurs the borders of societal classifications. I delve into how the implosion in meaning caused by Body Horror Fashion can make us question common notions about bodily filth.”

Julia Sara Ghassemi is a fourth year AMFI student, studying Fashion and Business Development. Her interest in fashion and marketing, and how often men tend to wear dark blue, has led her to deep dive in ‘To What Extent are Color Preferences for Western Male Consumers Gender and Culturally Codified?’. “In my paper, I discuss the roles of the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution in radically changing the colors and silhouettes of the western man. Leaving behind wigs, heels, and flamboyant silhouettes in exchange for a simplified, bespoke uniform. I discuss color associations to gender during WWI and WWII, when gendered clothing for children arose in the United States and Europe. Lastly, the impact culture and gender have on today’s male and female marketing sectors may influence color preferences.”

Nicole Spakman is a conceptual designer and researcher who plays between analog and digital design principles. She loves to create aesthetic work that has a critical take or reflection on daily life. Because of her background in advertising and graphic design, she always takes the concept to lead the project. For her personal work this means that every new project can differ from medium. Besides her visual projects she incorporates her love for research in the form of articles.

Lexa Driest (moderator) is a fourth year Communications student at Windesheim Zwolle who took a detour to follow the Fashion Theories minor at AMFI.

Special thanks to Stephanie Bloemen as the main student coordinator of this event.