Political and Sartorial Styles

Starting with the premise that clothing is political, this volume explores the relationships between political theory, dress, and self-presentation during the period in which Britain's colonial empire assumed its modern form.
The book assembles an international group of scholars to document the role of clothing in shaping identities and communicating social and political messages. It sheds light on the material basis of the political cultures of Britain and its colonies while offering timely connections to present-day issues and concerns. The chapters range from an analysis of the uniforms worn by the West India Regiments stationed in the Caribbean to the smock frock donned by rural agricultural labourers, and from the self-presentation of members of Parliament, political thinkers, and imperial administrators to the dress of characters in novels, paintings, and political cartoons.
Since politics in this period was mostly a man's affair, Political and sartorial styles focuses primarily on men and masculinity - an underrepresented area in scholarship on fashion and style. The book will appeal to students and scholars of nineteenth-century history, particularly those working on gender, politics, material culture, and imperialism.