The Natural Body: Movement, Dress and Physical Culture 1890-1945

Co-convenors: Dr Christine Boydell, Professor Theresa Buckland  and Dr Jean Williams (PI)

Between 1890 and 1945, a more widespread modernity changed the way that ordinary people dressed and behaved. This research cluster examines the history of specialist bathing and dance costumes. This form of clothing gradually shrank and became the modern swimsuit or dance costume that people wore everyday for leisure, exercise and competition.

You are welcome to join our symposia which have three aims: firstly, we will discuss the wealth of under-used material culture that we have identified in a number of new and under-used national collections. Secondly, by taking objects and artefacts as our primary focus the project will reach new interdisciplinary conclusions about the way in which people dressed and moved. Thirdly, there is a case to be made for the De Montfort University archives and other Leicestershire collections as being of international importance. Leicester was the centre of Britain's hosiery and knitwear trade; it was therefore a major producer and exporter of sportswear generally, swimsuits and dance costumes particularly.

This Research cluster is supported by the DMU Research Investment Fund 2011-12.

The Natural Body: Movement, Dress and Physical Culture 1890-1945 Working Paper Series No 1 (PDF)