Dress
welcomes submissions of research articles, research reports, and visual essays.
Research Articles: This type of critical article represents original research with strong theses and conclusions and is approximately 6,000 to 10,000 words in length, including citations.
Research Reports: The shorter research reports focuses on a narrow topic, artifact, or archival collection and can be more descriptive, but still needs rigor in the methodology and presentation of the findings, as well as how those findings fit into dress study. Research Reports are approximately 3,000 to 6,000 words, including citations.
Visual Essays: The visual essay format is intended to create publication options for original creative contributions related to dress that push new boundaries or generate new knowledge or insights in the field. This format of submission must feature dress or costume used as a vehicle for original creative expression with 8-10 high quality photographs or illustrations (300 dpi) for which the author/artist owns copyright. The supporting text of up to 2,000 words (including citations) must articulate the aims, background, and context for the work, explain the formal decisions that guided the creation thereof, and articulate the knowledge generated by the project.
Submission Guidelines:
All manuscripts should be submitted electronically, using a Word document file (not a pdf), double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font. Authors must follow the formatting guidelines of the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. All pages should be numbered.
Electronic submissions should be sent to the Acting Principal Editor/Deputy Editor
Einav Rabinovitch-Fox at dress@costumesocietyamerica.com. Authors with questions for the editor are also welcomed to contact her by email.
No hard copy submissions will be accepted.
All submissions should include the following:
- A separate cover sheet with the author(s) name, address, email address, phone number, title of the manuscript, and a brief (100-150 words) biographical statement
- In order to protect the anonymity of the author during the blind review process, the first page of the article should include ONLY a title and an abstract (100-150 words) summarizing the content of the paper.
- Articles should include 5-7 keywords for online indexing
- Descriptive subheadings in the body of the text
- 5-10 low resolution images with captions should be embedded into the document. Black-and-white and colour illustrations and images, as well as maps and other supporting materials, are welcomed. High-resolution images (minimum 300 dpi) will be requested prior to publication. Image permissions are the responsibility of the author.
- Endnotes using numerals and formatted following the Chicago Manual of Style.
- Disclosure statement of any financial or non-financial interest that has arisen from the direct applications of your research.
- Acknowledgements should be omitted in the initial submission but may be added if the manuscript is accepted for publication.
Criteria for Review of Research Articles and Reports:
Contributions will be assessed in a double-blind peer review based on the following criteria:
- Does the manuscript fit the aims and scope of the journal?
- Significance of the subject: Is it original? Does it contribute to new knowledge? Does it answer the “so what?” question? Has the author grounded their work in a larger context?
- Strengths and weaknesses of the approach or argument: Are the thesis and objectives clear and followed through?
- Sound methodology: Is the author thoroughly acquainted with the secondary literature on the subject? Does the author make appropriate and thorough use of primary sources? Are the figures appropriate? Does the author provide evidence for each claim?
- Clarity and organization: Does the paper introduce the topic and develop a thesis? Does the conclusion pull together the findings of the article? Does the organization of the body of the paper follow a logical and consistent sequence?
- Quality of writing: has the author a good grasp of grammar and sentence structure? Is the writing style clear and concise; sentence structure is varied; tone is consistent and appropriately professional/scholarly; transitions are made between paragraphs and sections?
Criteria for Review of Visual Essays:
Contributions will be assessed in a double-blind peer review based on the following criteria:
- Does the project present an original and rigorous creative response to dress or fashion?
- Does the project produce new knowledge/insights or push boundaries as an artistic response to dress?
- Are the research aims, background, methods and outcomes clearly stated?
- Does the author offer appropriate critical reflection?
- Are the images selected to illustrate this project representative of the work and of high quality? Are the images compelling and appropriately captioned?
More information regarding submission, including format, style, and language can be found on the Taylor & Francis website.
