Giorgio Riello (Victoria and Albert Museum) and Peter McNeil (University of New South Wales) have been asked by the UK-based publisher Berg to be the editors of a new volume in fashion studies entitled 'A Cultural History of Shoes'. Publication is envisaged by early 2005.

OUTLINE

This collection of essays aims at providing the first academic survey of the role footwear played in ancient, early modern, modern and post-modern societies. The focus of the book is the historical analysis of cultural attributes, social values and personal meanings of shoes. The volume will include essays ranging from footwear and women in ancient Greece to sweatshops and the power of big trainers’ brands in the 21st century.

It is anticipated that coverage will become more detailed as the study draws closer to the present day. It is hoped that essays on any period before the Eighteenth Century will be broader in thematic/historical scope than essays on subsequent periods. Essays on non-European footwear, history of walking, and medieval and early modern shoes are particularly welcomed.

Essays should be c. 5000 words in length (excluding bibliography) with a maximum 500 words as Notes/References. Illustrations are welcomed particularly if they are the author's own copyright.

Abstracts (200-300 words) should be sent no later than the 30 December 2003 to Peter McNeil at the email below. For informal enquiries, please contact Giorgio Riello at the second email below. Accepted articles are due for submission on 15 July 2004.