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

(December 4) Read this because it was mentioned on Erin McKean’s A Dress a Day and sounded interesting.

McKean described it thusly:

"The Lost Art of Dress is a history of (and paean to) the women who invented the field of home economics, and who taught hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of women how to dress beautifully, healthfully, economically, and practically during most of the twentieth century, only falling out of favor during the youthquake movement of the 1960s. Przybyszewski calls them the 'Dress Doctors' and outlines how they used principles from art to guide women’s dress choices.

"It’s a fascinating read, and whether or not you agree with the premise of the book (that women today are largely not stylish because they have abandoned these classic principles of color harmony, symmetry, and graceful line) it’s certain that you’ll enjoy the vast amount of largely forgotten and entirely charming advice the Dress Doctors gave their 'patients.' For instance, women were advised that, when traveling, they should remain efficient and anonymous by choosing 'no emotional colors, no revelatory designs, or fabrics, no temperamental hats or shoes.'" 

This description is what made me want to read the book, but I didn’t find the premise of the book to be about stylishness -- I found The Lost Art of Dress to be a feminist tract and I floved it for that reason.

This statement on page 148 is the whole story in a nutshell:

“The sewing demonstrations and clothing clubs organized by extension work made a difference in women’s lives.”

It’s a great read if you don’t mind getting angry all over again about the marginalizing of women through every means available throughout all of history.

In fact, it was so incensing it made me wonder: Was Przybyszewski hyping the feminist angle or was it undeniable?

And then all that righteous indignation is offset by outfit judginess, which is always fun to read for its own sake, but a totally different philosophical register. Near the end is a section of advice for dressing as an older lady.

To sum up: surprising and sometimes strange, but very interesting.

Mentioned and made me want to read Art in Everyday Life by Harriet and Vetta Goldstein.