Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

Corsets and Crinolines

by Norah Waugh

Corsets and Crinolines is a study of the changing shapes of women's dress and how these were produced.

"The line of fashion is determined by the foundation garment". This book contains hundreds of illustrations from ads and catalogs published originally in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A fine historical record, indispensable for research into period clothing and the fashion silhouette, this is a scarce source for information on foundation garments of the mid-1800s to the 1930s. With historical notes.

All About Wearing High Heels

by J. J. Leganeur

IMPORTANT: Please read the DISCLAIMER inside the book. This book covers everything about wearing high heels, from buying them to dealing with various foot problems. Most of the information is unavailable elsewhere and based on over 20 years of experience by a very devoted high heel wearer.

ENGLISH DRESS IN THE AGE OF SHAKESPEARE

by Virginia A. LaMar

Part of the Folger Booklet series on Tudor and Stuart Civilization.

Salons and Spas: The Architecture of Beauty

Salons and Spas: The Architecture of Beauty

by Julie Sinclair Eakin

Beauty is big business worldwide. This is most evident by noting the amazing transformation of what was once the corner "beauty shop" into the amazing spaces that are now called salons and day spas and are being designed by some of the world’s hottest designers and architects. Providing a serene atmosphere that pampers and relaxes is as important for success as the products and services these retreats offer.... (more)

The History of Lesbian Hair

by Mary Dugger

In The History of Lesbian Hair, Mary Dugger delivers an unrelentingly hilarious view of the modern world. The redoubtable Ms. D. offers an uproarious array of illustrated essays, diagrams, and short takes, subdivided into Life ("The Downside to Lesbian Chic", how to "Build Your Own Lesbian", "So You Want to Be a Straight Girl", and the ultimate definition of children - "pets with thumbs"), Liberty ("Far Right... (more)

Chinstraps, Nose-Moulds & Corsets: A Shopper's Guide to Feminine Beauty 1880S-1930s

Chinstraps, Nose-Moulds & Corsets: A Shopper's Guide to Feminine Beauty 1880S-1930s

by Rosemary Hawthorne

For centuries, the seeds sown by advertising to beguile women have fallen on fertile ground. The sell has been soft-to create a feeling of promise. Then, as now, it has been essential to make the product unforgettable, superior, one that outshines all the others-yet, somehow, within reach. Although, outwardly, it is beauty products and clothing that seem to give women confidence, there are other, less obvious... (more)

Big Hair

by James Innes-Smith

A hair-raising journey through the era when big was king. In the beginning, there was the hair. And some of the hair was bad, but it was small. As men and women everywhere worked to improve and increase their lot, however, they stumbled onto some of humankind's most miraculous innovations: spray, gel, mousse, crimping irons, and of course, the perm. With these new tools, people everywhere suddenly found... (more)

Hair & Fashion

by Caroline Cox

Hair and fashion are inextricably linked signs of the times, reflective of the prevailing zeitgeist. Whether long or cropped, curly or straight, hairstyles are a potent force. When combined with the latest fashions, hairstyles have created some of the most resonant images of the 20th century. This glamorous, well-illustrated book looks at the interdependent relationship between fashion and hair, using thematic... (more)

Permanent Waves: The Making of the American Beauty Shop

Permanent Waves: The Making of the American Beauty Shop

by Julie A. Willett

Throughout the twentieth century, beauty shops have been places where women could enjoy the company of other women, exchange information, and share secrets. The female equivalent of barbershops, they have been institutions vital to community formation and social change. But while the beauty shop created community, it also reflected the racial segregation that has so profoundly shaped American society. Links... (more)

Madam C .j. Walker and New Cosmetics (Inventions and Discovery)

Madam C .j. Walker and New Cosmetics (Inventions and Discovery)

by Katherine E. Krohn

Tells the story of Madam C. J. Walker, who invented a line of African American hair products and cosmetics that her to become the first self-made female millionaire of any race. Written in graphic-novel format.

The artificial face: A history of cosmeticsFenja Gunn

The artificial face: A history of cosmetics

by Fenja Gunn

Being beautiful: The story of cosmetics from ancient art to modern scienceCarolyn Meyer

Being beautiful: The story of cosmetics from ancient art to modern science

by Carolyn Meyer

A survey of cosmetics and their use throughout history with a description of commercial manufacture, consumer advice, and recipes for homemade products.

Soap and scent : recipes for natural beauty

Soap and scent : recipes for natural beauty

by Gill Farrer-Halls

Imagine beautifully scented soaps and cosmetics so pure they look good enough to eat. Such luxury items are typically only found at upscale boutiques, but now, this book brings them home, allowing consumers to mix their own scents and personalize their own cosmetic products. SOAP & SCENT provides inspiration and instruction to make you own beauty products easily and inexpensively without sacrificing... (more)

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women

by Naomi Wolf

The bestselling classic that redefined our view od the relationship between beauty and female identity. In today's world, women have more power, legal recognition, and professional success than ever before. Alongside the evident progress of the women's movement, however, writer and journalist Naomi Wolf is troubled by a different kind of social control, which, she argues, may prove just as restrictive as the... (more)

Excuse Me, I'm Going to Kill My Hairdresser!: A Humorous Survival Guide for Women Who Visit Hair SalonsJames Doycheff

Excuse Me, I'm Going to Kill My Hairdresser!: A Humorous Survival Guide for Women Who Visit Hair Salons

by James Doycheff

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Victorian Servant!: A Thankless Job You'd Rather Not Have (You Wouldn't Want to...)

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Victorian Servant!: A Thankless Job You'd Rather Not Have (You Wouldn't Want to...)

by Fiona MacDonald, David Antram

Fiona MacDonald studied history at Cambridge University and at the University of East Anglia. She has taught in schools, adult education and university, and is the author of numerous books for children on historical topics.

Blahnik by Boman: Shoes, Photographs, Conversation

Blahnik by Boman: Shoes, Photographs, Conversation

by Eric Boman

Long before their supporting role in Sex and the City, Manolo Blahnik's shoes were legendary—exquisitely detailed, unabashedly luxurious, and impossibly sexy. The epitome of sophistication and taste, they have graced the feet of royalty, supermodels, and movie stars. In these breathtaking pictures by Blahnik's longtime friend, photographer Eric Boman, the shoes take center stage in a dazzling array of intriguing... (more)

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me

by Paula Begoun

When women seek reliable information about the relative value and performance of specific beauty products, they consult Paula Begoun. From drug stores and home shopping to department stores and catalogs, Paula Begoun reviews all of the major cosmetic and skin care lines — more than 25,000 including 75 new product lines in this edition. The comprehensive beauty bible from “the Ralph Nader of Rouge” — The Detroit... (more)

Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics

Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics

by Kim Erickson

Exposes the truth behind the cosmetic industry Each day, we are exposed to some 200 synthetic chemicals--without our knowledge. Skin, hair, body, and beauty products are loaded with potential irritants, carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified many ingredients found in modern cosmetics as hazardous. Worse still, such product ingredients are easily... (more)

Shelfari Book Activity

Tags: dress and grooming