FASH 782 - Fashion Theory

Research starts with an initial idea or question, which is often vague or unfamiliar. This can be developed into a well-formed topic through iterative reading, exploration and brainstorming.

While looking for information, consider:

• Why is this topic important and interesting to yourself, and to others?

• What are the key terms and concepts?

• What are some specific examples? (designers, styles, materials, pieces, etc.)

• What are the important time periods or milestones?

• Which cultures and places relate?

• Are there too many search results? Try using terms that are more specific.

• Are there too few search results? Try using terms that are more general.

After reading and testing a few sources, take a moment to reflect. Is there a particular concept that has grabbed your interest, that you would like to continue to explore? Does this topic seem feasible to research: not too general nor too obscure? Is the topic relevant to this class, and to the field of fashion? If still unsure, brainstorm a new angle on your idea, and re-try the search. Trial and error is the key to topic development.

Suggested information sources:

Encyclopedias (online or printed) provide summaries and references to related sources:

With a better understanding of your direction, continue to investigate and test your topic(s) or question(s). Scholarly research sources will add focus and depth.

Take note of:

• Influential or impactful sources (e.g. heavily cited books and articles)

• Researchers / authors who specialize in the topic you've chosen

• Theories and methods used by fashion researchers

• Books, articles & other sources that appear in citations/ bibliographies

Continue to reflect and refine your research. It will still be necessary to try multiple searches/sources. Remember that there will not be a 'perfect' source. Instead, a number of sources (some more relevant than others) will be combined in a new way.

Suggested information sources:

Scholarly fashion journals provide the most targeted and advanced research for this course:

Art and design databases can be used to explore a number of journals and magazines in fashion, design, fine art and more:

Browsing for books and articles? Search Catalog+  to find a variety of resources all in one place:

Looking for a specific book title or author? Search the Classic Catalog below:

Search below for journals, magazines and newspapers by title (e.g., Design Issues, Artforum, New York Times).

Fashion does not exist in a vacuum. Interdisciplinary research - using sources outside the field of fashion - can provide perspectives that expand on what you have already found.

Look for and consider:

• Interdisciplinary concepts mentioned within the fashion literature you have read

• Communication, gender studies, psychology, or other disciplines may be relevant to your topic

• Key words/terms used in other disciplines, which may differ from fashion terminology

• Example works from other visual disciplines (e.g. film, fine art, advertising) that may be worth examining

It is not necessary to include information from a broad range of disciplines. Identifying just one key idea from one other discipline may be enough.

Suggested information sources:

Use databases and search engines that cover multiple disciplines, or that focus on a research area other than fashion or art:

Primary sources are information, images or objects that are contemporaneous to your research topic. They provide evidence of what was produced, what took place, what was said, how people reacted, and more.

Look for and consider:

• Limit search results to a key date or period for your topic, to see what was reported at that time

• Who has the 'voice' in the source? Is it the creator or originator, or someone else?

• In what ways did the initial reception or conversation differ than it does today?

• When using images, video or other visual evidence - look closely and describe and analyze what you see

Even just one or two strong examples of primary sources may be enough for your research.

Suggested information sources:

Primary sources can come from almost anywhere and need not be limited to library research. That said, here are a few library resources that provide primary source material: