Bending the Rules is a visual exploration of identity and gender throughout history. Using the lens of dress, costume, fashion, and body image, the book will highlight how we make space in society and culture for human expression. Clothing and the physical body interact intimately, so dress is a non-verbal, powerful way to delve into the boundaries that frame our views of self, identity, and gender. Fashion and dress criss-cross all parts of our experience, meaning clothes can show both serious and playful aspects of selfhood and identity: joy, longing, aspiration, power, fear, negotiation, happiness, community, fun.
 
In the West, a wide cultural shift has been happening in body identity, sizeism, gender pronouns, access and personal rights. In traditional, indigenous cultures, space has existed for centuries for flexible identity, gender roles, and personal definition. The gap is narrow­ing, but clothing, fashion and body image can show us how the West is wrestling with these global concepts while indigenous cultures are conserving or reviving ancient identity practices. 

The book will feature a rich range of resources—from art to sculpture, original illustrations to designer’s doodles, embroidery to social media. Archive and museum research, combined with first person interviews, never-before-seen photographs, and images, and newly photographed and documented extant dress will spur the reader’s imagination and seamlessly weave together the cutting edge and historical.

CUSTOM GRAPHICS: by Gwen Conaway, a costume designer, fashion historian, and culture specialist living in Southern California. 

WIDE AUDIENCE: Through Illustrated timelines, custom graphics, and a sense of humor, playfulness and curiosity, the book will be accessible to readers of all ages, from tweens exploring their own newly forming identity to cool aunts, and switched-on grandparents.