Dictionary Dressings is an ongoing research project by Femke de Vries that uses the nature of the dictionary definition as a “zero condition” for a piece of clothing to decode clothes and explore an alternative fashion vocabulary.

The book contains an introductory conversation by the editor/artist/researcher Femke de Vries with Ruby Hoette, text contributions by Joke Robaard and Barbara Brownie and visual contributions by BLESS, Conny Groenewegen, Elisa van Joolen and Students from the HKU (University of the Arts Utrecht) 2015/16.

“On a weekday in 1999, from a fixed point inside Chartres cathedral, I made an hour long sound recording. At the time of recording, no organised religious activity was taking place. The building was being visited by tourists and groups of believers who were talking, praying and singing.

In 2013, I began to translate this universe of sounds into words and sentences, without stating the source of the sound or referring to the physical space of the cathedral.”—Toine Horvers