Hair & Fashion

"Hair and fashion are inextricably linked, signs of the times, reflective of the zeitgeist. Whether long or cropped, curly or straight, hairstyles are a potent force and, in combination with the latest fashions, create unforgettable images: from Vidal Sassoon's 'Five Point Cut' for Mary Quant, to the punk look of 1970s London to Sam McKnight's iconic styles for Princess Diana. Hair is fashion and fashion is hair, a fascinating symbiotic relationship which is investigated in detail in this timely book. Hair & Fashion considers both the historical development of this relationship and its contemporary significance, focusing on key moments such as the 1920s bob, the long-haired hippie look of the 1960s and the recent Hoxton Fin. The role of colour for hair and its associated cultural meanings have become increasingly important in the twenty-first century, an era in which most women have dyed their hair at least once, and Hair & Fashion also looks closely at the role of the blonde, brunette and redhead in popular culture. This text is supported by evocative images, including work by top photographers from groundbreaking fashion shoots, as well as specially commissioned shoots. Haircuts and hairstyles, as this book reveals, are no mere simple incursions into hair taming and conformity but a living, growing embodiment of cultural codes and meanings with the potential to turn you into a walking work of art."--BOOK JACKET.

Lee Widdows is a Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design where she teaches on the internationally renowned BA (Honours) Fashion course.