Annotating Fashion

Annotating Fashion sits in the gap between traditional online fashion publications and academic journals. Exploring fashion through the lenses of sociology, history, and culture, and helping to uncover the "why" behind what we wear and how it shapes our societies and identities.


  • Annotating Fashion is a platform that aims to democratise fashion studies and change the trajectory of fashion media—exploring the industry through the lenses of sociology, history and culture to understand the ‘why’ behind what we wear and how it shapes our societies and identities.

  • We believe that when we understand the why, we dress better, consume with more intention, and see fashion as the social and cultural phenomenon it truly is.

     Currently, access to fashion studies is often gated behind the hallowed halls of academic institutions. Meanwhile, mainstream fashion media remains dominated by aesthetics and consumer-led content that reinforces narrow, Eurocentric narratives and fashion systems. 

    Annotating Fashion exists to bridge that divide, making rigorous fashion discourse accessible to everyone.


  • Through critical essays, a comprehensive bibliography, interviews, and deep dives into the fashion publications of the past, we aim to shape a new era of fashion discourse.

     By providing these tools, we bridge the divide between theory and practice—ensuring fashion academia is no longer an exclusive resource, but a collective  one.


Image shows various models from fashion shows with magazine text in the background.

Recent Posts

Featured
Taste, Distinction, and the Fashion Consumer — Part Two
Taste, Distinction, and the Fashion Consumer — Part Two

A Two Part Exploration Of Taste And How It Is Shaped.
Part Two Discusses Richard Peterson and Roger Kern’s Theory Of The Cultural Omnivore And Explores Quiet Luxury As A Case Study.

Read more →
Featured
Issue 01
Issue 01

Into the Archive unpacks a magazine or publication from the archive — annotating the fashion, the culture, and the world it came from. Issue 01 unpacks the December 2003 issue of ELLE UK.

Read more →

Membership Options

Monthly Membership
£5.00
Every month

Full access to every Notes on Fashion essay, a comprehensive research database, interviews and digital archive. Flexible monthly support for independent fashion media.

✓ Full Archive
✓ Notes on Fashion Essays
✓ Interviews
✓ Database
Annual Membership
£50.00
One time

The same full access, with a long- term commitment to our mission. Support the growth of the platform and receive two months free.

✓ All Monthly Features +
✓ 2 Months Free

Annotating Fashion believes in equity in education. As part of our mission to democratise fashion studies and change the trajectory of fashion media, we offer a limited number of barrier-free memberships. If you are a student, independent researcher, or a fashion hobbyist currently unable to self-fund a membership, you can apply for our trust-based Open Access program [here].