Benjamin Wild

Dr Benjamin Wild is a cultural historian. His research seeks to place contemporary and historic dress and fashions within their social and cultural context. He is keen to understand how material objects - primarily clothing and jewellery - become imbued with meaning to convey their owner's and wearer's values. Benjamin’s work also considers issues of self- and group-identity, marginality and performance. His third book, Carnival to Catwalk: Global Reflections on Fancy Dress Costume was published by Bloomsbury in February 2020. He is contracted with Bloomsbury to write Wearing Culture: Controversy, Negotiation and the Pursuit of Fashion.

Benjamin completed his PhD in History at King’s College London in 2008. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Contextual Studies at the Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University. Benjamin has worked with Conde Nast College of Fashion & Design, Sotheby's Institute of Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum. He co-hosts Dress: Fancy podcast.