Here's a new thread suggestion (something to do while we munch s'mores) -- I've been studying and interpreting clothing as technological material culture, and I wonder if anyone out there is engaged in similar pursuits (pardon the pun). I'm working primarily as a historian of technology trying to draw some broad meaning and thematic marrow from the development and use of spacesuits. I've depended upon interpretive/evaluative schemes posited by E. McClung Fleming and David Pye, and I think I'm having some success (well, personal satisfaction at least -- others will have to judge my success or lack thereof). And so -- Anyone have any experiences to trade in the clothing area? I've used the collections of the Smithsonian Nat'l Air & Space Museum, and plan to return to them during my dissertation, and I don't think I've ever dealt with anything as just-plain-flat-out-fascinating as those complex workclothes. So what schemes do all of you use when evaluating/interpreting clothing? Do you even embrace formal research programs over stream-of-consciousness interpretation? Does connoisseurship (a la Charles F. Montgomery) apply to clothing (it seems not, for spacesuits anyway)? Can anyone suggest good studies of clothing and its role in culture? Hope this starts a good one. (munch, munch) Regards, Doug ........................ Doug Lantry University of Delaware [log in to unmask]