Coming Soon
Critical reflections and some “loose” ideas about Latin/x fashion, delivered directly to your inbox.
“Pensar la moda” is a bilingual newsletter about fashion, historical and contemporary. It aims to offer more critical perspectives on how we understand—and think about—Latinx and Latin American fashion. In every issue, I will share ideas, reviews, resources, and events related to Fashion Studies and based on my own critical reflections as a fashion “thinker”.
Who’s writing?
I’m Laura Beltrán-Rubio, writer, curator, researcher, educator and consultant of art and fashion. I have a M.A. in Fashion Studies from Parsons School of Design (New York) and I’m a Ph.D. Candidate at William & Mary (Virginia). I am also an Assistant Professor at the Department of Design at Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá).
My work explores the constructions of identity through fashion and art in the Early Modern Spanish World. Although I focus mostly on the history of fashion, I am also very interested in understanding the legacy of colonialism in contemporary fashion systems. That’s why I work with brands and designers as a consultant, as well as researching and writing for more scholarly audiences.
What to expect from “Pensar la moda”?
“Pensar la moda” is one of my efforts to engage in critical conversations about fashion outside academia—and decentralize Fashion Studies on the process! The reason?
I believe that we can only make Latinx and Latin American fashion stronger if we know more about our history and get more critical in our analyses;
Even though I’m a college professor, I refuse to leave my teaching opportunities and critical conversations about fashion within classrooms and university halls; and
I’ve always wanted to see more and more people speaking in more open, critical, and informed manners about Latin American fashion.
(I’ve also tried to achieve all three through a variety of Digital Humanities projects, including Culturas de Moda and The Fashion and Race Database, and the Spanish-language podcast Salón de Moda.)
Each issue of “Pensar la moda” will include: a critical reflection on fashion, bringing together contemporary and historical perspectives; updates about my research and what I’ve been reading, watching, and listening to; and a series of events related to both Latin American fashion and the field of fashion studies more broadly.
Although my main interest is Latin/x fashion, you’ll very likely find tons of connections with other expressions of fashion from around the globe.
Was this interesting?
Subscribe. Get the next issue of “Pensar la moda” directly on your inbox.
Join the conversation. Do you want to talk more about Latin/x fashion? Leave your own ideas and reflections in the comments.
Let’s get social. Find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok as @laurabelru. You can also find me on Linkedin.