But What do I Wear? A Study of Women's Climbing Attire

Evans, C. K. (2009) But What do I Wear? A Study of Women's Climbing Attire. In: 2nd Global conference: Fashion exploring critical issues, 23-26 September 2009, Oriel College, Oxford. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Mrs Henry Warwick-Coleman advises the lady climber on her attire in her 1859 publication, A Lady’s Tour Round Monte Rosa. She suggests ‘A lady’s dress is inconvenient for mountaineering’, continuing ‘even under the most careful management, and therefore every device which may render it less so should be adopted’’
Throughout history clothing can be seen to have been responsible for the development of many theory’s and concepts that have become embedded within the social structure of communities. They form a framework around which society has and still does establish rules, codes and beliefs, embedding a deep sense of social conformity through ‘uniforms’ that express moods and personalities.
Emancipation opened up the opportunity for women, to take an active role in the sport of climbing, yet conflicts arose, when it came to the attire they were expected to wear. For women breaking dress codes would cause a scandal, whilst becoming the first to ascend a peak; had its prizes.
This paper investigates historical documentation related to the development of women’s climbing and climbing clothing from 1806 to the twentieth century. This will provide an outline of the clothing developmental stages that have taken place and the struggle for inclusion and recognition that women have faced on the mountain.

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