Beauty, Fashion and History (V1475)

15 credits, Level 6

Spring teaching

Notions of beauty and fashion help shape, conceptions of class, gender, national and racial identities, selfhood and sexuality, in both the past and the present.

Focusing on the western world since the mid-19th century, this module explores how clothing and beauty products reveal connections between:

  • business history
  • gender history
  • the history of the body
  • the histories of race and empire
  • performance studies
  • media culture
  • historical geography.

You’ll examine how these items reflect and shape broader cultural, social, and historical trends.

Topics include:

  • Dior and the cult of the fashion designer
  • the corset and 19th-century femininity
  • male uniforms and fashion
  • black hairstyles in the 1960s
  • film stars as fashion icons.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses: