Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear

At a moment of unprecedented creativity in men’s fashion and continuing reflections on gender, contemporary designers are questioning established forms, seeking to liberate wearers from traditional models of masculine dress. This book combines fashion with artistic and broader cultural histories —looking at the designers, tailors, and artists who have constructed and performed masculinity from the Renaissance to the present day. It traces connections across and beyond European menswear, celebrating both rich traditions and daring individualists. Divided into three parts, “Undressed” reveals the role of the body and underwear in fashioning masculinities. “Overdressed” explores the power dynamics of sartorial bravado, while “Redressed” deconstructs a modern masculine uniform: the black suit. Featuring a staggering range of cultural touchstones from Hercules to Virgil Abloh, Giovanni Battista Moroni to Jawaharlal Nehru, Yves Saint Laurent to Kehinde Wiley, Marcus Rashford, Marlene Dietrich, and even Captain America, challenges our preconceptions about menswear, revealing the fascinating historical roots beneath the power, artistry, and diversity of masculine attire and appearance today.