The Virtues of Underwear Nina Edwards
Event details
Modesty, flamboyance, filth. Writer Nina Edwards unravels the intimate narratives woven into the fabric of our most personal garments.
From the first loincloths to the intricate layers of shapewear, she explores the concealed world of underwear as a silent communicator of individual desire and societal affiliation. As an indicator of the pulse of fashion, underwear evolves from minimalism to intricate designs with new materials.
Drawing on her book The Virtues of Underwear: Modesty, Flamboyance and Filth, Nina will explain how beyond its role in denying our corporeal nature, underwear safeguards and exposes, reflecting our innermost desires and past experiences. From clean underclothing resisting carnal urges to the protective embrace of fabric, she illuminates the profound, often hidden stories told by the garments beneath our outer layers. Join Nina for historical insights into both women’s and men’s underwear, and global cultures of dress.
Book sales
You can buy copies of many of our speakers’ books from Fox Lane Books, a local independent bookseller and Festival partner. In some cases, author signed bookplates are available too.
About the speaker
Nina Edwards is a freelance writer whose books include Darkness: A Cultural History (2018) Pazazz: The Impact and Resonance of White Clothing (2023) and The Virtues of Underwear: Modesty, Flamboyance and Filth (2024), all published by Reaktion Books.
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