Violets and Velvet: Lesbian Art and Fashion History with Dress Historian Eleanor Medhurst

Artalogue

Welcome to Season 2 of the Artalogue!
Our first 4 episodes this June will be focusing on Queer creatives in the arts.
Fashion can be a powerful tool for expressing queer identities and challenging societal norms. Eleanor Medhurst is a dress historian who specialises in lesbian fashion history and is here to chat all things lesbian fashion in art and culture! We chat about the significance of clothing to the lesbian identity as seen in historical works of lesbian art. Eleanor uncovers the historical significance of symbols like violets and lavender, tracing their roots to the poetry of Sappho and their resurgence in early 20th-century Paris. In fashion as well as art history, these symbols have long communicated lesbian identities and solidarity among women.
Eleanor shares insights from her upcoming book, "Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion" set to release on June 1st, 2024. She reveals intriguing findings about trans lesbians in interwar Berlin and the vibrant cultural scene supported by archival lesbian magazines from the 1920s and 30s. Eleanor also offers valuable advice for budding historians, emphasising the importance of passion, peer connections, and leveraging social media for academic networking. Don't miss this fascinating blend of art, fashion, and history through a queer lens. Happy Pride!!!
Read more on the Dressing Dykes Blog
Order Eleanor's Book "Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion"

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1. Ellie Medhurst (00:00:00)