Uniforms: Why We are what We WearFrom Boy Scouts to soldiers, nurses to UPS workers, chefs to nuns, Paul Fussell describes, in sharp and telling anecdotes, the history and meanings of various uniforms. He reveals their secret language and unfolds their cultural significance. Focusing on the American scene, he holds up a mirror to the folks who head off to work each morning in regulated clothing and charts the fault lines of the desire for conformity and individuality. In examining the way uniforms unite and divide us, he ranges over the globe, describing, among other things, the Russian love of shoulder boards, the German obsession with black, and the Italian enthusiasm for feathered military hats. According to Fussell, we are what we wear, and sometimes our get-ups say surprising things. Uniforms is vintage Fussell -- a blend of vinegar and grace, of keen cultural insight and hilarious wit, equal parts spoof and illuminating social analysis. |
Contents
Acknowledgments ix | 1 |
Russian Uniform Culture | 16 |
Admiral Zumwalts Big Mistake | 30 |
Copyright | |
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Admiral Alison Lurie American Amish Amtrak Anthony Powell appear Army badge band baseball belt blazer blouse boots boys brass buttons British brown called camouflage century chef's uniform civilian clothing coat collar combat conductors cuffs dark blue designed dress uniform Eisenhower Eisenhower jacket enlisted especially fashion front garment German gilt buttons girls gold gown gray green guards Hare Krishna helmet Hermann Göring insignia jacket jeans Jews khaki Klan leather lieutenant look male Marines military uniforms naval navy blue Nazi neckerchief necktie never nurses officers outfit pants Patton pilot players police popular rangers rank re-enactors sailor suit Sam Browne belt Scouts Second World Second World War shoes shoulder sleeves soldiers Stan Herman straps stripes style suggest sweater Swiss Guards There's thing tion tradition troops trousers U.S. Army United visor cap wanted wearers weirdos white gloves white shirt women wore worn Zumwalt