In The Pursuit of Vintage Clothing: History, Sustainability, and Personal Style Professor: Mia Rose Chae
Course Description This 15 week course is an all-encompassing look into vintage clothing and the role and effect of vintage fashion on the world and individuals. Topics will be arranged into three parts: 1) the history of fashion through the decades; 2) the environmental impact and sustainability advantages of vintage fashion; and 3) curating and styling vintage looks to create a personal style. In the first part of this course, we will explore and research the history behind a few of the most iconic fashion decades throughout American history and the influences behind them. There is so much rich cultural history that can be revealed through clothing from the past. The decades we will explore, in order, are the 20s, 40s, 60s, and 70s. The first 7 weeks of the course will be dedicated to a group project that explores the fashions of each of these decades, which will require both analog and digital research. Much of our time will be dedicated to this section because in order to truly appreciate clothing from the past, we must understand its historical context. A necessary component to the research leg of this course is that each group explore at least two analog sources. Books, catalogs and old photographs can oftentimes reveal far more than online sources. We will discuss how to analyze these sources. The history segment will also include one field trip day where we will explore historically rich vintage boutiques in Manhattan.
Collecting and appreciating vintage clothing is not only a personal style statement, but it also has a positive impact on the environment. The second part of this course will be dedicated to studying the negative impact of the fast fashion industry and why it is better for the environment to buy second hand and consignment clothing. Learning about this issue will help give each student greater incentive to buy less fast fashion and thereby reduce their carbon footprint. This segment will include three lectures, one quiz and watching an insightful documentary on the issue. The third and final section of this course will be devoted to learning how your favorite decades can come together to curate your own true sense of personal style. Not to say the other two sections will not be enjoyable, but this section allows the most self-expression and personal creativity. We will continue research by looking through old catalogs to make collages and mood boards, and work towards establishing a style that represents who you are. This section will take place over the last 4 weeks of our time together and will lead to your final project. My hope for this course is that all three of the sections we cover will synthesize together, and you all gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of vintage fashion, and its role from yesterday to today.
Course Goals
To understand why certain styles and trends occurred in the particular decades we will study To conduct meaningful research both analog and digital To feel passionate and excited about the research you conduct To understand the role you have in the health of the environment through where and how you shop for clothes To discover which decades speak most to who you are
Meet the teacher and Inspiration behind this course
Hello new students! My name is Mia Chae and I’ll be your instructor for Vintage Fashion: History, Sustainability, and Personal Style over the next 15 weeks. I wanted to create a course to share my love for vintage fashion and the inspiring role it has taken in my life. My interest in vintage clothing began my sophomore year of high school, when I first discovered my favorite vintage shop near my small hometown in Michigan. I would frequent the shop named Lost and Found many times throughout my teen years, often strolling by just to look at and feel the clothing, walking out empty handed. I was fascinated by the way each piece in the store felt like it told a story. It was almost like a museum. I became so interested that soon, most of my clothes were either bought from vintage or thrift stores. Which happened to also reduce my own carbon footprint. After a while I started to recognize which fashion decades I became more drawn to and that lead me to develop my personal style, which is a part of who I am. I have always been interested in learning about the historical context and influences on the pop-culture and fashions of each decade. Although I enjoy and value learning about history, I am most interested in what most people would perceive as the “less important” aspects of history; like the fashion and pop culture of the times. I want the history we learn in this course to be fun and enjoyable.
Course Location
Mondays and Wednesdays Lost and Found Vintage 12:00 pm- 3:30 pm
ant to w l l ’ y, you Hone p! u show
You’re going to have some pretty great required texts in this course . . .
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel (watch during class) This documentary is a celebra tion and snapshot of the life of one of the most influential women of the 20th century www.Fashion-Era.com This website is a fantastic source for examing the trends and styles from whatever era of your choosing The True Cost (watch for homework) Necessary Documentary for understanding the detrimental effects of fast fashion and importance of second hand clothing
At least two periodicals and/or old catalogs We want to look back throughout the decades we study and examine and analyze print media and catalogs to help the research process. One current fashion magazine or catalog You will only need to borrow from someone or buy one current magazine in order to compare and contrast print media of the modern age to the periodicals of your choosing
Course Schedule Week 1- Syllabus review, Icebreakers, discuss importance of historical context in fashion Week 2- study 20s Week 3- study 40s Week 4- study 60s and watch documentary in class Week 5- discuss HW, study 70s Week 6- assign groups for projects, field trip Wednesday Week 7- in class work time Monday, presentations Wednesday Week 8- Begin discussing sustainability: myths and truths? Week 9- Fast fashion sustainability lectures Week 10- Discuss The True Cost documentary, Quiz Wed. Week 11- In class activities to introduce discovering personal style, mood boards Week 12- Introduce final project and field trip to library Week 13- In class work time Week 14- Check in and start presentations on Wed. Week 15- Presentations
20s
40s
60s
70s
Major assignments & descriptions
1. Documentary Assignment: 2 paragraph Takeaway from The Eye 2. Group History Project: In small groups, focus in on your assigned decade and research trends, influences, and icons of the times, including your group’s personal insight 3. Documentary Assignment: 1 page essay on The True Cost documentary: learned facts and person 4. Quiz: Only exam in the entire course, will be on what was covered on fashion sustainability (review lecture slides and documentary)
5. Final Project: This project takes place during the personal style section and is centered around this aspect, allowing this project to call for the most creative freedom. In whatever form
Policies 1. Grading There are only two grades you can get in this course and on any assignment: PASS AND FAIL. There is too much emphasis and stress when the A, B, C grading scale is used. I do not want my students to think of grades in this course. I hope that the course will be engaging and exciting enough for the students to want to try their hardest and produce great work for their own learning. I will be able to know if a student is passionate enough to pass based on work quality and participation.
2. Attendance All lectures and notes from class will be available prior to each session, so if you miss days you will never be behind if you make the effort. This is a pass or fail course so missing a couple days will not negatively affect you, however if you miss over 5 days of class is an automatic fail.
Classroom rules 1. We all have opinions and have personal stories that should be shared so always speak up! 2. The classroom always remains an inclusive space and we always recognize both sides and let others share their views 3. Bring in any books, old photos, or articles you think are worth analyzing 4. Tell me if you start to feel uninspired and we will work out issues