Manly men: 1807

Yesterday's manly man is today's fop.

Cover girl: 1807

--From La Belle assemblée--

Every issue of La Belle assemblée had a beautiful woman on the cover, "photoshopped" in effect by an artist's hand. They were all celebrities, but also royalty and therefore politically powerful.

When your celebrities are movie stars I suppose you consider it fashionable to be informed of their latest movies. Likewise, when your celebrities are politicians, politics becomes fashionable for you.

How much of a person's "depth" is just just chasing after what is fashionable; chasing after stars?

Little black dress: 1807

--From La Belle assemblée--

Every dress in this magazine, from July to December, was white. They might have been hard to keep clean, but they sure were simple and versatile.

Can you imagine the changes that occurred in society for women's dress to change from this in 1807 to this in 1830?

Simpler times: 1830

--From Belle assemblée--

Pictured from left to right: a carriage dress, evening dress, and dinner dress. God help you if you went by carriage to someone's house, had dinner, and then stayed for the evening.

And think about ironing!

Hipsters: 1902

Advice by cable from the foreign centers of style guide the artists and highly trained workers who are creating Wooltex styles. That's why they lead. That's why a Wooltex garment can be worn in any city in America or Europe with the certainty that it is au fait.

--From The Delineator--

Information is a commodity so valuable that people can be impressed if they merely think you have it.

THE Fashion Accessory: 1902

--From The Delineator--

We do crazy things with purses and shoes, but they don't match the shear exuberance of a lady's hat.

Activewear: 1902

--From The Delineator--

The activity? Walking in a corset and not letting your dress get dirty.

Remember this picture the next time someone talks about modern fashion-designers hating women.

Gems, 1833 edition

-Thanks to custom, it is sufficient in order to be recognised as amiable, that he who is the subject of a malicious pleasantry may laugh as well as the author of it.

-Moderation in every thing is so essential, that it is even a violation of propriety itself to affect too much the observance of it.

-To dress with neatness, and elegant simplicity is important, even at home.

--From The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment--

I thought I'd take these sentences out of context and present them as aphorisms.

Fashion tips, 1833 edition

To suppose that great heat of weather will authorize this disorder of the toilet, and will permit us to go in slippers, or with our legs and arms bare, or to take nonchalant or improper attitudes, is an error of persons of a low class, or destitute of education.

No shorts!

For to make a noise in walking is entirely at variance with good manners.

No flip-flops!

Young people who become bald, should not hesitate to have recourse to wigs. Nothing more saddens the appearance, than those bald skulls, which seem always to invite the observations of the anatomist.

Hair pieces are okay!

--From The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment--

Body issues, 1852 edition

--From Moniteur de la Mode--

In the past, the media didn't warp women's minds and make them think of themselves as ugly. They could be any size they wanted; well, except in one part of the body. Fortunately, early and continued use of a corset would ensure the skeletal changes and organ displacement required for the perfect figure.