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A Journey Through the Looking Glass: Exploring Fashion and Identity in Lewis Carroll's Masterpiece

Kenneth Parker

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Published in Contemporary Indonesian Fashion: Through The Looking Glass (Dress And Fashion Research)

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In Lewis Carroll's beloved children's classic, Through the Looking Glass, the protagonist, Alice, embarks on an extraordinary journey through a looking glass into a world where everything is reversed. This topsy-turvy realm is a place of endless possibilities and challenges, where Alice must navigate a labyrinth of strange and wonderful creatures and confront her own identity.

Contemporary Indonesian Fashion: Through the Looking Glass (Dress and Fashion Research)

by Alessandra Lopez y Royo

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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One of the most striking aspects of Through the Looking Glass is the vivid and imaginative fashion that Alice encounters. From the Red Queen's towering crown to the White Rabbit's waistcoat, each character's clothing is imbued with symbolism and meaning. In this article, we will explore the role of fashion in Through the Looking Glass and how it illuminates the themes of identity, transformation, and societal expectations.

Alice's Changing Wardrobe

Throughout her journey, Alice's clothing undergoes a series of transformations. At the beginning of the novel, she is dressed in a simple pinafore, reflecting her innocence and vulnerability. However, as she progresses through the looking glass world, her wardrobe becomes increasingly elaborate and impractical. She wears a dress that is too big for her, a crown that is too heavy, and shoes that are too small. These changes symbolize Alice's struggle to adapt to the strange and unfamiliar world around her.

Alice In Wonderland Dress Contemporary Indonesian Fashion: Through The Looking Glass (Dress And Fashion Research)

Alice's changing wardrobe also reflects her evolving identity. As she confronts her fears and challenges, she begins to develop a stronger sense of self. By the end of the novel, she is able to stand up to the Red Queen and assert her own individuality. Her final outfit, a simple white dress, symbolizes her newfound confidence and independence.

The Red Queen's Towering Crown

One of the most iconic characters in Through the Looking Glass is the Red Queen, a tyrannical and formidable figure who wears a towering crown. This crown is a symbol of her power and authority, but it also represents her insecurities and fears. The Red Queen is constantly worried about losing her crown, and she will stop at nothing to protect it. This suggests that her crown is not only a source of power but also a source of vulnerability.

Red Queen Crown Contemporary Indonesian Fashion: Through The Looking Glass (Dress And Fashion Research)

The Red Queen's crown also reflects the societal expectations that women are expected to conform to. In the Victorian era, women were expected to be subservient and obedient, and they were often confined to the domestic sphere. The Red Queen's crown represents the weight of these expectations, and her constant fear of losing it suggests that she is struggling to meet these standards.

The White Rabbit's Waistcoat

Another memorable character in Through the Looking Glass is the White Rabbit, a nervous and anxious creature who is always running late. The White Rabbit wears a waistcoat that is too small for him, which symbolizes his sense of inadequacy and his inability to keep up with the demands of the world around him.

White Rabbit Waistcoat Contemporary Indonesian Fashion: Through The Looking Glass (Dress And Fashion Research)

The White Rabbit's waistcoat also reflects the societal pressures that men are expected to conform to. In the Victorian era, men were expected to be strong, stoic, and ambitious. The White Rabbit's waistcoat represents the weight of these expectations, and his constant anxiety suggests that he is struggling to meet these standards.

In Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll uses fashion to explore the themes of identity, transformation, and societal expectations. Alice's changing wardrobe reflects her evolving identity, while the Red Queen's towering crown and the White Rabbit's waistcoat symbolize the societal pressures that women and men are expected to conform to. By examining the fashion in this beloved children's classic, we gain a deeper understanding of its characters and the timeless themes it explores.

Contemporary Indonesian Fashion: Through the Looking Glass (Dress and Fashion Research)

by Alessandra Lopez y Royo

5 out of 5