Editorial

Abstract

This special issue explores the multifaceted dimensions of men’s fashion, examining its intricacies through the lens of atmospheres. Atmospheres serve a dual role, functioning as a contextual frame that shapes men’s fashion and analytical frameworks that unify diverse influences on masculine dress. Articles within the issue explore the atmospheres of men’s fashion across various settings, including en plein air painting, online avatars, music videos, performative personas in popular music, raves and military uniforms. Employing historical, visual, textual, ethnographic and practice-led approaches, these investigations shed light on the interplay of spatial, bodily and affective dimensions of fashion. Atmospheres become a bridge, addressing the gap between these dimensions and providing a generative notion to understand interdependent interactions within masculine fashion contexts. Consequently, the issue underscores the significance of men’s fashion as a carrier of social life within broader socio-cultural, technological and political assemblages. By scrutinizing specific instantiations of men’s fashion, the special issue forges connections between typically distinct elements in the field, emphasizing the interdependence of individuals, equipment, technologies, practices and environments.