Book Review: The Lost Art of Dress

Book: The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish by Linda Przybyszewski

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: April 29, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

It was nice reading about the history in fashion and the Dress Doctors, the women who help shaped how women dress. I feel that although the Dress Doctors were trying to help women dress I found many of their rules or principles to be constrictive and unimaginative. I felt they limited women's creative progress and made everyone look like everyone else. I can't believe the Dress Doctors thought shoes to be unimportant, if they could see women now who are truly shoe crazy they probably wouldn't know what to do.

I'm glad the author (who is a professor) didn't gloss over the racial attitudes and prejudices that occurred back then. I think it would have been so amazing if some of those Dress Doctors could have championed or fought for all women to look their best instead of following along with the prevailing attitudes. I found it disappointing that many of the books written by and for black women would not even be published by the publishing companies due to racism. The ones that were published were only little 30 page pamphlets instead of full size books. 

It was really eye opening to see why so many people (including most of the Dress Doctors) who were against women wearing pants. Women were supposed to look like ladies and wearing pants were for the men. I'm so glad times have changed because women can wear whatever they want.

This was a very smart and thorough look at the history of fashion and I found it to be enlightening to see how women went from being constrictive with so many rules to now where women can pretty much wear whatever they chose to.

It was nice to see all the effort that was put into looking good compared to now how some just throw on a pair of pajama pants and go out in the world (which is not flattering on anyone, just look at an episode of "What Not To Wear" to see plenty of examples).

The Lost Art of Dress is full of information and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fashion or history. I enjoyed reading this.