Beyond Vanity
The History and Power of Hairdressing
$64.91
- Hardcover
216 pages
- Release Date
8 October 2024
Summary
From the award-winning author of Dressing Up, a riveting and diverse history of women’s hair that reestablishes the cultural power of hairdressing in nineteenth-century America.
In the nineteenth century, the complex cultural meaning of hair was not only significant, but it could also impact one’s place in society. After the Civil War, hairdressing was also a growing profession and the hair industry a mainstay of local, national, and international commerce. In Beyond Vani…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780262049054 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0262049058 |
| Author: | Elizabeth L. Block |
| Publisher: | MIT Press Ltd |
| Imprint: | MIT Press |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 216 |
| Release Date: | 8 October 2024 |
| Weight: | 690g |
| Dimensions: | 25mm x 185mm x 236mm |
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Critics Review
“A lot of fascinating stories … there is much to learn from Elizabeth Block’s new book, which is written as eloquently as her first book, Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion, a volume I would recommend to anyone interested in the story of fashion.”
—Forbes
“Beyond Vanity takes on hair and hairdressing in early America as the important cultural signifiers that they are … Yes, it’s a fascinating look at some fashionable and fabulous material culture, and is beautifully illustrated, but it’s also a clear reminder of how much the culture around hair reflects the racial and economic inequalities of society writ large.”
—Hyperallergic
“The book is meticulously organized, with each element contributing to the validation of her central thesis. Given Block’s stature as a prominent art historian, this level of excellence is expected, yet it’s always gratifying when she so precisely addresses our interests.”
—Daily Art Magazine
“While hair itself might have no intrinsic value, for centuries meaning has been assigned to it and it has played a vital role in our history. Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing seeks to untangle this role and the impact of women’s hair on culture throughout history.”
—Dazed
“A fascinating look at how hair was a powerful medium through which status and class were illustrated.”
—ELLE Canada
“Block … combs (not literally) through the complex cultural meaning of late 19th-century hair in America.”
—George Washington University Magazine
Elizabeth L. Block
Elizabeth L. Block is an art historian and Senior Editor in the Publications and Editorial Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She is the author of Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion (MIT Press).
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