Women's fashions, hairstyles, and cosmetics changed a great deal during the Victorian era (between 1840-1900). If you're interested in learning about the various fashion dos and don'ts of a stylish Victorian lady, this is sure to be a book you'll enjoy.

This is so quaint and sweet, I love it. The illustrations of fashion and culture throughout the years is so neat. I have long held a fascination with Victorian times and everything related to them, so this book was a really fun read for me. It made me super grateful that I am able to slip on a pair of jeans!

This book provided an interesting account of Victorian fashions over several decades. I enjoyed the illustrations as they gave life to the very detailed descriptions.
I would have liked more historical context which I feel would have given the book more depth.

Women's fashions, hairstyles, and cosmetics changed a great deal during the Victorian era (between 1840-1900). If you're interested in learning about the various fashion dos and don'ts of a stylish Victorian lady, this is sure to be a book you'll enjoy.

Beautifully illustrated and well researched, Mimi Matthews book, A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty, will tell you everything you wanted to know about fashions of this time period. Sorted by decade, the complete ensemble—dresses, underwear, outerwear, footwear, hats, accessories, and jewelry—is described in minute detail in the first part of the book. I was fascinated with the description of each garment, but I would often stop reading for a moment in order to gaze at the illustrations.

The second part deals with fashion etiquette (what to where, and when). Fashionable ladies wore a morning/at home dress, walking dress, afternoon/visiting dress, dinner dress, and (presumably only for special occasions) an evening dress or ball gown. That's a minimum of four dresses worn per day! It wears me out just thinking about it. The rest of this section is sorted in sub-sections for riding habits, holiday fashions, and sportswear, as well as proper clothing for marriage, maternity, and mourning.

The final portion of the book, part three, is devoted to beauty. Victorian hair care, hairstyles and hairdressing, skin care, and cosmetics. The hairstyles of the period were every bit as elaborate as the clothing, requiring a skillful set of hands and eventually false hair to result in a trendy 'do. Common ingredients used for skin care included arsenic, mercury, and lime. (Yikes! I think I'll stick with Noxema.)

It was a lot of fun reading about the trends of that long ago time. As much as I love the fashions, I have to say I'm glad to be alive now rather than then!

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Pen & Sword History via Netgalley.

Great little book concerning everything to do with lady's fashion during the Victorian era.

The first part is a very methodical overview of the key points of fashion per decade, it is rather list-like and therefore gets a bit tedious, but I guess this would work if you want to use this as a reference book. The changes in dress through the century are addressed in detail, however I think it could do with more pictures. For one because I love those old fashion prints, but also because it can be challenging at times to imagine which fringe goes where. It helps if you have a generous helping of BBC costume drama on the side.

Part II and III were actually more interesting, because they go into specific situatons and circumstances as well as beauty products. Part II features riding habits, beachwear, sportswear, and dresses for weddings, maternity and mourning. Part III goes into hair care, hair styles, skin care, and cosmetics.

I really enjoyes it, but there are 2 but's for me:
-lack of pictures
-It would have been nice to also have an idea about how the lower classes dressed and how high fashion trickled down to the servant uniforms. I know the clue is in the title, it's a LADY's guide, but I'm curious.

Well this is wonderful, I am a huge fan of Mimi Matthews work, whether that be her beautifully poignant romances, or her well researched actual pieces, like this. I will admit that as soon as I heard about A Victorian Ladies Guide to Fashion and Beauty, I was fascinated by it and I was jumping for pure when I got the opportunity to review it.

This is the perfect reference book for those interested in Victorian fashion and beauty, set out in different sections throughout the book it covers every aspect of what a Victorian lady would have worn and her beauty regime from 1840 to 1890. Ms Matthews covered everything you would ever want to know about, from under-garments, day/evening wear and shoes to cleansing soaps, hair removal and hair styling.

Every aspect of a ladies, day when they change, and why is written in clear and precise detail from which piece of clothing they would wear for what occasion, who would be able to wear what, Ms Matthews has even covered the fabric and colours that would have been used. And I do have to say that, I love how very gothic the Victorian era was in their clothing.

My favourite part is the Victorian Beauty part, I always knew that their cosmetics were at times perilous for the health. Some of what they used to do, to keep that perfect porcelain complexion is mind blowing plus quite bizarre and worry-some that Victorian ladies were so obsessed that they were happy to put quick lime on their faces and even use electricity to combat some normal issues.

This is such a great read, brilliantly researched and fabulously engrossing. I love how much detail Ms Matthews has added to each part, her passion for the era is obvious and another thing I love is how she has sprinkled the whole book with passages and extracts from genuine articles and periodicals from the time.

I cannot recommend this enough, for anyone who loves their fashion history and Victorian’s then this is a must read

This was very informative but it got really dull really fast. I just wasn't expecting it to actually just be about what victorian fashion standards.

This is a very well-researched book and I can tell that the author really enjoyed the topic and writing it. At times I found it a bit overwhelming, but the illustrations and photos really helped to see exactly what the fashions she was describing looked like. Fashion was much more complicated then, and it must have been exhausting to try to keep up with what to wear and when to wear it!

This book is exactly what I needed. As a collector of Victorian fashion plates, I sometimes find it difficult to determine what it is exactly that’s shown on these images. Ladies’ garments from the nineteenth century – chemisettes, crinolines and bonnets – are so far removed from what we’re familiar with today, that I found I could certainly use a helping hand. That is why A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, the latest non-fiction outing by Mimi Matthews, is a real delight to me. And because I already knew her blog, expectations ran high.

As I started out with my own blog in 2016, I naturally took the time to check out the ‘competition’. Now, there aren’t that many blogs about nineteenth century history, but if there’s one that stands out, it must be Mimi Matthews. Ever since 2015, she’s been writing both engaging as well as historically correct blog posts about my favourite subject.

Moreover, she has – as I suppose is every bloggers dream – no less than two novels and two non-fiction publications to her name. With a third novel on the way, and the final publication of A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty set for the 31st of July, she’s well on her way to making quite a name for herself.

A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty consists of one part overview of fashion’s evolution between 1840 and 1900, and another dealing with essential tips on fashion etiquette, as well as interesting titbits about every kind of beauty product – and how to discreetly apply them or not.

It’s clear Mimi Matthews has gone through a lot of trouble to render a near-complete overview of Victorian fashion history. Her descriptions are accessible and compact, making them extremely convenient when examining fashion plates. Costume designers and those who dabble with historical costumes on a regular basis may find the explanations offered here a bit too concise; but for us mere mortals, Matthews offers just enough details without things becoming overly complicated. Just perfect!

Every once in a while, a quick sortie to Google can be helpful, though; because for all its descriptive density, A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty could have done with a stronger visual aspect. True, if everything would have had a picture next to it, this guide would have to be three times as long; but sometimes I had a bit of trouble visualising concepts like gauging, capotes or congress boots.
Fun fact! We still wear the latter – calling them Chelsea boots -, but some 175 years ago they were Queen Victoria’s favourite type of hiking shoes.

So yes, I feel I’ve learned a great deal through reading this convenient guide. For instance, I feel confirmed in my notion that the 1880’s really is my very favourite of Victorian fashion decade – with the tightfitting Gothic 1840’s coming in as a close second. Both styles are epitomised by rather clearly defined simplicity and a relatively close cut. This in rather sharp contrast to say the 1870’s, where every bit of decoration was itself decorated for good measure (a bow trimmed with lace, with a pearl on top of that, and yet some other frill – in some endless recursion of overabundance.) I for one am glad we have left such tastes behind us!

For the first part of her book, the author has opted for a consistent approach: After every description of day-to-day fashion and evening attire in general, she delves into each decade, discussing everything from undergarments, millinery (headwear), footwear, outerwear, accessories, and jewellery. At times, these matter-of-factly sections can get a bit dry. However, her accounts of The Great Anti-Crinoline League will have you raise an eyebrow in amusement.

After going through the essential developments in fashion, almost every chapter sees the author shedding light on one or more socio-political developments or some other significant moment; Like the appalling conditions in sewing workshops and the death of seamstress Mary Walkley in 1863, the repercussions of the American Civil War on US fashion, or the rise of the suffrage movement later that century. It may seem only logical for the advent of the sewing machine to have had a tremendous influence on fashion, but did you ever consider how the introduction of the modern bicycle influenced the way women dressed? I found these to be fascinating additions, which also went a long way to placing the described attire in its original context. It made this part of the book a touch more lively than the descriptions of the first part.

Still, I would have liked to have read a bit more about the wearers of these fabulous gowns which Matthews describes – seeing as the social context of the nineteenth century plays a considerable role. Yes, Matthews does mention the intricate connection between freedom of movement – or lack thereof – in fashion and women’s freedom of movement within society. With the upsurge in ideas on women’s emancipation, the creation of a more liberating silhouette became a must. Women refused to be kept merely propped up at home any longer, demanding to play a meaningful part in these turbulent new times.

However, the question remains who were actually meant to wear all these fashionable dresses in this period? Even for upper-middle class ladies, to keep up with the very latest fashion would have cost an arm and a leg – with a visit to the dress maker only being in reach of the happy few.

Consequently, the middle and working classes (including servants), would never have moved with the fashions. For them, things really didn’t change that much over the century; at most, the varying range of en vogue silhouettes – such as the huge difference between the 1860’s crinolines and the sleek cuts of the 1890’s – would have been largely mimicked. Many misseses and her ladyships would have forbidden their servants to wear a crinoline themselves anyway; such did not befit their station.

Fashion was intrinsically linked to status – and I would have loved to have read more on that. Without a doubt, the introduction of the sewing machine, department stores and ready-to-wear clothing (fortunately discussed at length by Matthews) all have contributed to dismantling this entrenched stratification.

Fashion only makes up one part of A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, however; as Matthews has more than enough know-how to offer an in-depth explanation on what to wear at any given time of day. Because no fashion-conscious lady would be caught wearing the same thing she wore that morning at an evening occasion, and she would have been seen sporting a different ensemble at a country outing to when she would go out for a morning call earlier that same day. There were many crucially different apparels for horse riding, holidaymaking and sports. As I read all about these sets of rules, I was honestly glad to consider that we no longer have to deal with such rigid social norms – although our modern predilection for doing groceries in homewear isn’t exactly a boon to society, either.

Continuing on, Matthews discusses developments in haircare and a myriad of beauty products. Not that the latter were employed that conspicuously; as opinions on what would be considered ‘decent’ or not could vary greatly. A healthy, clear complexion was a key element of a beauty physique. Whomever wasn’t blessed with good skin would try to change that using every sort of ointment, because – tragically – the Victorians believed firmly in the idea that outward appearances reflect inner qualities: Somebody with a very blemished skin must therefore also have some defect of character.

Small wonder that – despite the stigma – there was a huge demand for beauty products nonetheless. Many of these would have been made at home. Matthews describes a whole range of lotions, ointments and creams, from rouge and cold cream to anti-aging serums, powders and lip balms. Unfortunately, she doesn’t offer any authentic recipes – but seeing as not all Victorian beauty products were entirely wholesome or safe, I can see the need for a don’t try this at home policy.

For all those who are interested in the evolution of Victorian women’s fashion and the often secret beauty rituals of the age, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. Though its tremendous wealth of information might not make for a book to finish in one go, it is however a most valuable reference. Moreover, those rich descriptions of what people wear in nineteenth century romance novels have come alive for me after reading Matthews work, and I can start to appreciate historical period dramas on a whole new level. This book has really enriched my experience of nineteenth century culture.

A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty will be available in paperback and Kindle edition via Amazon starting the 31st of July. For Dutch readers: It will also be available via bol.com in October 2018. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been translated – yet –, but I very much believe that translations into Dutch and other languages would be highly deserved.

This review is also available in Dutch, including images, at www.myinnervictorian.nl.
I’d like to thank the publisher for arranging a review copy.

Considering all the differences between Victorian fashion and today's fashion, I was expecting something that was more...well, juicy? Instead, it was a fairly straightforward list of "They wore this and this is what it looked like." Well-done for what it set out to do, but not what I expected.

This book provides an overview of women's fashion in England between 1840 to 1900. The author used information and quotes from 19th century beauty books, fashion magazines, and lady's journals. She also included some fashion plates. I'm not familiar with the fashion terms of the period. I would have enjoyed more illustrations or more detailed descriptions for commonly used words describing parts of the dress or accessories, but I still found the book very interesting and informative.

The first part of the book described the fashionable dress styles (and their underpinnings), hats, shoes, cloaks, gloves, jewelry, and such during each decade and how the fashions changed. The author also talked about how changes in society and technology caused changes in fashions.

Then the author discussed the various dresses that were worn: the morning dress, walking dress, afternoon dress, dinner dress, evening dress or ball gown. She talked about changes in riding habits, seaside holiday dresses, bathing costumes, sports wear (for lawn tennis, golf, and cycling), wedding dresses, maternity dress, and mourning dresses during the Victorian period. She also described beauty advice and attitudes, from soap and cold creams for the face to hair care and hairstyles to cosmetic usage (face powder, cheek rouge, lip rouge, perfumes, etc.).

An interesting, but very basic look into the fashion and lifestyle of women during the Victorian era. Decades of fashion is explained and supported with plenty of examples, such as the fashion etiquette of the day. I loved reading about the ways women washed and styled their hair in this time period. I will say, you really learn to appreciate the advancements in cosmetics and beauty supplies after finishing this book. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review.

A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty was a delightful and informative read. Taking fashion and beauty in separate sections, the chapters moved from decade to decade, outlining the major fashions and changes during that period. The illustrations were helpful to demonstrate the different styles. If anything, I might have liked to have seen a few more included. Overall, though, this is a nicely presented, easy to read, quick guide to Victorian women's fashion, which will be of interest to history buffs and of great use to writers of historical fiction.

This is a complete, fully detailed guide to women's clothing and beauty habits in the Victorian Era. Accompanied by drawings, it is an interesting and informative guide, which is a must-have for everyone interested in that era.

My review has been posted to Goodreads.

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A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty is a great introductory book to the world of Victorian primping. Clothing, hairstyles, and accessories are discussed decade by decade, and then by what was appropriate for different occasions. Hair and skin care are looked at, as well as cosmetics. Makes me realize that while I admire the beautiful clothing, I certainly wouldn't want to live in that era!

A decent but extremely simple account of Victorian fashion and beauty. I was expecting a much more detailed contextual narrative (in part because the author claimed I would get this in the introduction), so the fact that the majority of the book is organized in something that I can only describe as One Step Beyond List Format was disappointing.

Still, it's accurate to the best of my knowledge, and the illustrations are excellent. I can't recommend it as historical narrative due to poor readability, but I like it as an addition to one's reference collection, and I also respect the author's attention to detail.

A very good book, well written and well researched. It's full of interesting facts and clear explenation of how the Victiorian fashion worked.
The illustration are very good. The book is really entertaining.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Pen & Sword and Netgalley for this ARC

Istruttivo e incantevole insieme: l'incredibile varietà di mode e stili del (lunghisssimo!) periodo vittoriano vengono spiegati con chiarezza, e le meravigliose illustrazioni di moda arricchiscono un volume già splendido di per sé.

The book was a thorough and readable guide to Victorian high fashion. I would have liked to know more about the sources the author drew on - where were they published, who read them, were there differences between Britain and the US? It would also have been useful to know just what proportion of the population were actually able to afford the clothes described in the book.