Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Hollywood's interpretation of 1800s women's fashions

Hollywood’s interpretation of 19th century women’s fashions will be the subject of “The Evolution of Fashion,” a program scheduled for Tuesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in Union Theater at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield.

Holly M. Kent, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Illinois Springfield and a fashion history expert, will consider the ways in which Hollywood has interpreted 19th century women's fashions over the course of its history. From the beginning, Hollywood films have been passionately interested in telling stories rooted in 1800s history, culture, and literature, and in dressing their female stars in their version of 19th century American fashions.

Kent received her Ph.D. in U.S. women's history from Lehigh University. She joined the faculty of the History Department at the University of Illinois Springfield in August 2011. Her research and teaching interests include gender and fashion, women's involvement in literary culture, and female activism in the nineteenth-century United States.

This Women’s History Month presentation is free and open to the public, but reservations must be made by calling (217) 558-8934.

Kent was featured in an March 7, 2012, Canton Daily Ledger online post.

Read the full article online