"pulls together research and different articles I've written over the years as a kind of anthology. Part contested history, part polemic on what it is about workwear that is so enduring, and how it's got the stage of de-facto uniform today. And then a little personal resonance -stories about silly things I got up to when wearing it. The book isn't too serious -it's meant to be approachable,"
"Growing up in the UK amongst all the youth culture of '80s. Jeans had pretty much been the standard youth culture trousers for two decades already, and then on top of that you had these little things that people were clinging on to. Dexy's Midnight Runners in dungarees on [UK music TV show] Top of The Pops, and skinheads and soccer fans in donkey jackets and Dr Marten boots - all things invented for practical reasons."
Research and essays examine the contested history of workwear, its transition into a de-facto uniform, and its enduring cultural resonance. Workwear's appeal blends pragmatic function with performative dress-up, offering a claimed authenticity whether sincere or staged. Denim and utilitarian jackets have been appropriated by youth cultures, artists, craftspeople, and political activists as statements of realness. Historical precedents range from rich Americans dressing as cowboys on dude ranches to 18th-century French painters adopting linen smocks. The French workwear jacket receives focused attention. Personal anecdotes underscore the approachable, everyday wearing of workwear, including wearing jeans to the office.
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