“Macaronis” to “Mohawks”: How Political is Men’s Fashion?
Though men are often stereotyped as not caring about their appearances, history reveals the true political nature of men’s fashion and its involvement in social change. Such is evident in the “Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715–2015” exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum— the exhibition’s title referencing both the hierarchical order pre-industrialisation as well as the music and popular culture shaping men’s fashion today. From skin-tight leggings to cinched waists, trends in men’s fashion throughout history reflect the political charge men’s fashion has held in responding to and driving social movements. Peter McNeil, Distinguished Professor of Design History at the University of Technology Sydney, joined us on the line to discuss further.
