'A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty' by Mimi Matthews is a high-quality non-fiction book that delves into the intricate details of Victorian fashion and beauty. The book provides a comprehensive overview of women's fashion throughout the Victorian era, including information on clothing, jewelry, hairstyles, and beauty treatments. Readers praised the book for its detailed descriptions, informative content, and impressive historical knowledge displayed by the author. The book covers a wide range of topics, from dressing for different occasions to the evolution of fashion as a reflection of society's changes during the Victorian Age.
From The Publisher:
"An elegant resource that I will be reaching for again and again." -Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
"Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated...indispensable to anyone interested in the era." -Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author
What did a Victorian lady wear for a walk in the park? How did she style her hair for an evening at the theatre? And what products might she have used to soothe a sunburn or treat an unsightly blemish? Mimi Matthews answers these questions and more as she takes readers on a decade-by-decade journey through Victorian fashion and beauty history.
Women's clothing changed dramatically during the course of the Victorian era. Necklines rose, waistlines dropped, and Gothic severity gave way to flounces, frills, and an abundance of trimmings. Sleeves ballooned up and skirts billowed out. The crinoline morphed into the bustle and steam-moulded corsets cinched women's waists ever tighter.
As fashion was evolving, so too were trends in ladies' hair care and cosmetics. An era which began by prizing natural, barefaced beauty ended with women purchasing lip and cheek rouge, false hairpieces and pomades, and fashionable perfumes made with expensive spice oils and animal essences.
Using research from nineteenth century beauty books, fashion magazines, and lady's journals, Mimi Matthews brings the intricacies of a Victorian lady's toilette into modern day focus. In the process, she gives readers a glimpse of the social issues that influenced women's clothing and the societal outrage that was an all too frequent response to those bold females who used fashion and beauty as a means of asserting their individuality and independence.
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