Research Guides: Fashion Media: Overview

Recommended Resources

Women's Wear Daily Archive
Use keyword searching to find images by garment type, designer and brand names; another great database for primary source material.
The Fashion and Race Database
An educational resource that analyzes the link between race, power, privilege and aesthetics by examining the history and impact of race in the fashion system. The database offers lessons and resources that diversify how fashion is understood. NOTE: SMU users will need to create an account with their university email address in order to have access.

Historical Newspapers: New York Times (1851-2019) This link opens in a new window
Access to full-text articles from the newspaper's first issue to 2019.
New York Times This link opens in a new window
Through the SMU network, you may access current issues of the New York Times. Search for "Southern Methodist University" and proceed with your connection.

Vogue Archive
The full contents of Vogue magazine (US edition) in full color page image, from the first issue in 1892 to the present, with monthly updates for new issues.
Fashion History Timeline
A crowd-sourced source for fashion history knowledge, featuring objects and artworks from museums and libraries, as well as well-researched, accessibly written entries on specific artworks, garments and films.

Encyclopedia of Gender in Media
Variety of topics on the subject of gender and its depiction through the media.
Vogue Encyclopaedia
Learn the history of clothes and accessories as compiled by Vogue.

The History of Modern Fashion by Daniel James Cole; Nancy Deihl
Publication Date: 2015
Covers chronological changes in womenswear, menswear, and childrenswear, the dissemination of style and the mechanisms of change, and the relationship between fashion, the arts and popular culture.
Fashion by Christopher Breward
Publication Date: 2003
A beautifully illustrated history of 150 years of fashion; from the earliest development of haute couture in 1850 right up to the present day.
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion by Valerie Steele
Articles describing the colorful facets of couture and textiles, investigating various types of fabrics and materials while also considering such types of garb as aprons, bikinis, and prison dress.
Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion
Browse by region and major topics.

Contact:

bmitchel@smu.edu
214-768-2796

Subjects: Art and Art History, Dance, Fashion Media

Fashion, Media, and Culture
Guide corresponds to research in JOUR 2310: Fashion, Media, and Culture
Images and Copyright
Where to find images and how to use them correctly while observing copyright laws.
Citation Help
Find help for citing sources using MLA, APA or other styles.

American Decades
Great background information on the United States by decade: there is an entire section about fashion for each decade, but also lots of good general information for historical context. Look for the drop menu as shown below to choose the decade.