Sewing/ garbing research question

[LadyStitch]

Ok, move this if you need to but this is the place where I would find the people who know this information.

I am in a public speaking group, and one of the challanges put before us is to present a technical paper.  I don't have to actually write one but I still have to present one.  The problem is, I have no clue where to start to even LOOK for a technical paper in the relm of sewing/garbing papers.  Could any one suggest something? Or at least point me in the right direction?  I would appreciate the help.  Thanks.

[isabelladangelo]

Some places to check:

Costume Colloquium - They are in their third year and they are always calling for papers regarding fashion history. I can't tell if they have any of the past papers up (at work) but you can always contact them.

Williamsburg - Contact the textile department.  I know they've written several papers on the 18th C care and collection of textiles.

The Met & The Fashion Museum in Bath - I'm not sure about papers, but I've had excellent contact with both of them before regarding textiles (getting additional photos, asking about specific garments, ect).   I'm sure they'd be able to point you in the correct direction.  

Anthropological journals - believe it or not, very often they have papers on sewing techniques and importance of various fashion elements (Janet Spector's "What this Awl means" is a good example of a known sewing tool and it's importance to tribal life)

Hope that helps!

[gem]

Try here:

http://www.wornthrough.com/

It's a blog run by professional costume and fashion historians (working in museums, etc). They frequently run calls for papers and announcements for symposia. They will absolutely be able to steer you in the right direction.

Second, grab any of your good costuming books. Tudor Tailor has a substantial bibliography, and most of the serious recent ones will, too. You may even be able to present one of their recent publications (QUEEN'S SERVANTS or KING'S SERVANTS) for your talk, since they essentially amount to a scholarly publication on a focused subject.

[Auryn]

How do you present a paper without writing it??
Just kinda go over the outline and the topic??

I would bet that the most "technical" information you will find will probably have to be regarding stays and corsets.
I know I have seen rather lengthy papers written about extant elizabethan clothing.

[LadyStitch]

The way they see it is like, You are at a symposium.  Some great new paper/information has come about.  The writer of the paper will not be there, but an audience of your peers will be there and want you to present the information in that paper.  You are NOT taking credit for the information as your own, but meerly presenting the information in the paper to your peer group for their own knowledge.
It can be a technical article or Paper. What you have suggested so far seem to be on the right track.

I know I once read a paper on the coralation of women's skirt length and the economy of the time period. I wish i knew where I saw it.

[isabelladangelo]

I know I once read a paper on the correlation of women's skirt length and the economy of the time period. I wish i knew where I saw it.

"On the Principle of Order in Civilization as Exemplified by Changes of Fashion" by A. L.  Kroeber during 1919

And he is so wrong.  I actually disproved his entire thesis using actual historical examples of fashion during my graduate Anthropology studies course.  I *might* still have that paper, if you want it.   

[LadyStitch]

Sure I would love to read it.

[Dinobabe]

I know I once read a paper on the correlation of women's skirt length and the economy of the time period. I wish i knew where I saw it.

"On the Principle of Order in Civilization as Exemplified by Changes of Fashion" by A. L.  Kroeber during 1919

And he is so wrong.  I actually disproved his entire thesis using actual historical examples of fashion during my graduate Anthropology studies course.  I *might* still have that paper, if you want it.  

That's cool!  Go Isabella!

I was curious so did a quick search and found this.  Kind a funny, actually.

http://theboar.org/media/archive/volume-31/term-1-issue-4/newspaper/11.pdf

P.S.  I think we'd all like to read it!