Prepararsi. Il libro delle apparenze

What’s the meaning of getting ready before going out? And why is this process, which includes dressing up, putting on makeup and checking ourselves in the mirror, associated more with women than with men? In Prepararsi, Sara Marzullo questions how identity, whether personal, class-based or gender-related, manifests itself through the choices we make, deliberately or unconsciously, when we leave home and step out into the world.
Reflecting on the power of clothes to express ambitions and preferences, as well as on our need to conform to social rules and gender norms that divide our wardrobes, Marzullo reframes appearances as something far from superficial, and more as a space of conflict and negotiation in which we define who we are. From the history of fashion to the obsession with skincare, from quiet luxury to the unattainable ideals promoted by brands, Prepararsi investigates what is more visible to us, yet underestimated. If femininity and masculinity are constructs that we constantly preserve and reproduce, what does gender identity really mean? And if the way we appear is crucial to succeeding in the job market, is this a form or social intelligence or manipulation?
Exploring the intricate interplay between compromise and emancipation, Sara Marzullo emerges as one of the wittiest interpreters of our times.