A cultural historian, my work is underpinned by a belief that history is a dynamic agent within people’s lives, informing their values and behaviours. I seek to understand how people’s engagement with the past shapes the stories they tell about themselves, their communities and cultures, and the form these narratives take when expressed through material culture, particularly dress. Much of my recent research focuses on the themes of human self- and social identity and marginality.

I am currently Senior Lecturer in Fashion Narratives within Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University.