Fashion phenomena and the post-postmodern condition: Enquiry and speculation

Elements of fashion-forward dress and appearance, along with novel fashion initiation and adoption practices, have been described as exhibiting the expressive features of postmodern culture. But a recent body of theoretical work suggests that postmodernism has been eclipsed by a new epoch. ‘Post-postmodern’ is a catch-all term for the new cultural ethos and the theories that describe it. Among these are Bourriaud’s thesis on altermodernism, Lipovetsky’s proposal on hypermodernity, Eshelman’s discussion of performatism, Samuels’ argument on automodernity, and Kirby’s argument on digimodernism. I describe these theories and address how their authors substantiate post-postmodern expressions in varying forms of popular culture. And, because none address fashion-related dress and appearance per se, I extrapolate from the propositions to propose possible parallel post-postmodern fashion phenomena. I conclude with a critique of the extrapolations and an assessment of the viability of the idea that aspects of current fashion-related phenomena reflect a post-postmodern condition.