Members of the Case Western Reserve University community are invited to join the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program for an upcoming remote course titled “A Passion for Fashion: From Toga to Yoga.” Led by Lee Rubinstein, instructor of lifelong learning, lectures will be held Thursdays from Oct. 17 to Nov. 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
We’ve worn clothes as protection for millennia, but they are so much more than that. In this course, participants will examine the history of what we wore, when we wore it and even why we wore it. Did you know men wore high heels before women did? How about a time when only the sleeve of a dress could be decorated in any way?
Participants also will examine how clothing was deadly at times, not only because of chemicals, but also the labor involved in crafting some items.
The course will begin by covering prehistoric times and move through medieval times, the Renaissance, and then the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Hairstyles, make-up, and fashion accessories—especially jewelry—also will be covered.