Writing on/against Fashion: Literature, Dress, and the Transformation of Style, 1850-1950

Call for papers for a Special Session at the 2016 MLA Convention on the topic of "Writing on/against Fashion: Literature, Dress, and the Transformation of Style, 1850-1950." Papers on literature addressing fashion, style, fads, or dress reform in the Victorian and Modern periods are welcome. Why and how is fashion derided by some authors or celebrated by others? This session encourages papers from a variety of texts, both fiction and non-fiction, including texts from women's and fashion magazines and dress reform periodicals. Please send 300-word abstracts and CV (or any inquiries) by 14 March 2015 to Loretta Clayton at loretta.clayton@gmail.com.