Fashion and Mentality (Book)

Fatma Barbarosoğlu’s Fashion and *Zihniyet* book examines fashion not merely as a matter of clothing and attire but also as a mindset and a cultural change tool. The book analyzes how fashion intertwines with individuals’ expressions of social identity and how this process is shaped within social and cultural contexts historical. Through an in-depth exploration of the relationship between fashion and mindset, Author offers readers a new perspective at both individual and societal levels.

Content of the Book

Historical Foundations of Fashion and Mindset

The book traces the historical roots of fashion to explain how it became a social dynamic phenomenon. Barbarosoğlu argues that fashion is not merely an aesthetic or consumption issue but a vehicle that reflects shifts in societal mindsets. Particularly, the modernization process and the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic are examined in detail as key factors influencing the transformation of mindset through fashion. The author supports her arguments with historical examples, discussing how styles of dress shaped social structures.

Fashion and Social Identity

Fatma Barbarosoğlu analyzes how fashion influences the ways individuals express their identities. She contends that clothing is not merely a personal preference but a form of expression determined by social norms. The book provides a detailed examination of the relationship between women’s identity and fashion. Different periods, from Ottoman hijab fashion to contemporary Turkish attire, are presented as examples to understand how social transformations are reflected in fashion. Barbarosoğlu explores how individuals expressed their positions within social structures through fashion and how these expressions influenced shifts in mindset.

The Relationship Between Modernization and Fashion

The book assigns a distinct importance to fashion within modernization processes. Changes in clothing styles under Westernization policies are not viewed merely as symbols of modernization but as indicators of mindset transformation. Barbarosoğlu analyzes how modernization manifested in individuals’ dress habits and the social tensions that emerged during this period. The clothing revolution during the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic is discussed within this context. The author illustrates with examples how fashion transformed social norms and individuals’ self-perception during modernization.

Globalization and Its Effects on Fashion

Fatma Barbarosoğlu also draws attention in her book to the effects of globalization on fashion. Today, fashion appears as part of global consumer culture. The author discusses how globalization has diversified the factors shaping individuals’ clothing choices and how local identities have been transformed in this process. The influence of global brands and media on shaping individuals’ perceptions of fashion is among the important discussion topics covered in the book.

Thematic Depth of the Work

*Fashion and Mindset* treats fashion not merely as an aesthetic phenomenon but as a social, cultural and psychological process. The author provides a detailed historical and sociological analysis of how individuals and societies have entered processes of change through fashion. The book offers a profound analysis of how fashion has transformed the ways people express their social belonging.