CULT OF CHIFFON

"If you have learnt the secret of becoming smart you may possess power without beauty," promises this Edwardian-era manual of fashion tips. Originally published in 1902, the now-rare guide counsels the cultivation of charm and social standing through the subtle art of dress. Illustrated topics include selection of corsets, petticoats, hats, jewelry, footwear, and accessories.

The subject of woman, that is to say, the modern woman, with her varying instincts, pursuits, and peculiarities alone would fill many large volumes. I feel bound, therefore, to confine myself to the discussion of one particular side of her nature, one for which personally I have most sympathy, and one which perhaps can best be described by the epithet 'womanly.'

Originally published in 1902, this extremely rare volume offers a remarkable snapshot of the fashionable Edwardian woman. The author--fashion editor for The Lady's Realm, a monthly London magazine for more enlightened readers--offers rich counsel on how to cultivate charm and social standing through the subtle art of dress.

Illustrated fashion tips feature a wide range of advice on corsets, petticoats, hats, jewelry, footwear, accessories, and more, with chapters on The All-Important Question of Colour, Hats Sublime and Ridiculous, The Revival of Fashions of the Past, and The Aggressiveness of the Smart Woman. A selection of vintage advertisements for London-area fashion shops is also included.