A review by marginaliant
Fashion and Eroticism: Ideals of Feminine Beauty from the Victorian Era Through the Jazz Age by Valerie Steele

5.0

A marvelous overview of the shifting fashions (and reasons behind them) from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth. There are excellent examples given throughout in terms of quotes from fashion and moral journalists of the time and pictures of popular garments. The entire thing has a very up-to-date and feminist lens on it which shrugs off the usual patriarchal and Freudian interpretations of female fashion and the shifting erogenous zones. Instead, the book is much more in favor of one which stresses the changing technologies, political events, moralities, and other issues which have an impact on women's fashion. Overall, I adored this book. Definitely worth a look.