The myth and reality of haute couture : consumption, social function and taste in Toronto, 1945 - 1963
This thesis investigates the multi-faceted use of haute couture in Toronto as a symbol of English-Canadian women's postwar cultural identity. European and Canadian couture are related to their socio-economic use in the wardrobes of elite Toronto women whose needs and taste directly reflected etiquette codes, the expanding social season, and the requirements for functioning within it. Couture is contextualized beyond a status symbol, and seen to be a necessity in the performance of women's social roles and volunteer work in establishing arts and charitable organizations. It was vital in creating a national sartorial taste for English-Canadian women, and in defining their social and cultural identity during the postwar years. Further, it examines and analyzes the systems of buying and distributing European couture by Canadian retailers, then explores the relevance of these imports for Toronto's department stores, boutiques and their customers. Integral to this documentation and analysis, is the use of a multidisciplinary methodology that weds material culture with oral history, film and printed archival research. This has made it possible to document the movement and the function of couture from production,
Palmer, Helen Alexandra
Women's social history; Fashion
The myth and reality of haute couture : consumption, social function and taste in Toronto, 1945 - 1963. This thesis investigates the multi-faceted use of haute couture in Toronto as a symbol of English-Canadian women's postwar cultural identity. European and Canadian couture are related to their socio-economic use in the wardrobes of elite Toronto women whose needs and taste directly reflected etiquette codes, the expanding social season, and the requirements for functioning within it. Couture is contextualized beyond a status symbol, and seen to be a necessity in the performance of women's social roles and volunteer work in establishing arts and charitable organizations. It was vital in creating a national sartorial taste for English-Canadian women, and in defining their social and cultural identity during the postwar years. Further, it examines and analyzes the systems of buying and distributing European couture by Canadian retailers, then explores the relevance of these imports for Toronto's department stores, boutiques and their customers. Integral to this documentation and analysis, is the use of a multidisciplinary methodology that weds material culture with oral history, film and printed archival research. This has made it possible to document the movement and the function of couture from production,
myth reality haute consumption social_function taste investigate multi_faceted use haute symbol english canadian woman postwar cultural_identity european canadian relate socio_economic use elite woman whose need taste directly reflect etiquette code expand social season requirement function_within contextualized beyond status symbol see necessity performance woman social_role volunteer work establish art charitable organization vital create national taste english canadian woman define social_cultural identity postwar year examine analyzes system buy distribute european canadian retailer explores relevance import department store customer integral documentation analysis use multidisciplinary wed material_culture oral_history film print archival research make_possible document movement function production