We've all heard the legend of a certain Mr. Titslinger, whose clever little harness lifted the female physique to new heights. But what's the real story behind the invention of the bra? When did silicone injections start to make sense? And while we're on the topic--where have all the falsies gone? Whose bright idea was it to fashion steel hoop skirts wider than the standard doorway, and what's the deal with that mini medieval torture device known as the eyelash curler? In this fascinating, meticulously researched romp through the annals of the beauty industry, The New York Times's columnist Teresa Riordan explores that strange intersection of science, fashion, and business where beauty is engineered. From the bustle boom to the war on wrinkles, from kissproof lipstick to surgical face-lifts, Inventing Beauty reveals how, for centuries, social trends and technological innovations have fueled a nonstop assembly line of gadgets, potions, and contraptions that women have enthusiastically deployed in the quest for feminine flawlessness. Plumbing the depths of the U.S. Patent Office, the Max Factor archives, and the Smithsonian Institution, as well as such unorthodox sources as the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices, Riordan emerges with a compelling, at times hilarious, tale of entrepreneurism run amok. Complete with dozens of photographs, wacky patent diagrams, and too-kitsch-to-be-true vintage advertisements, Inventing Beauty is an enlightening, tongue-in-cheek tour de force.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Beauty:
I collect vintage makeup, and was very interested in this book. I found most of it to be fascinating. The author relies heavily on patent information and includes many drawings of the inventions that changed the way women looked through the decades. I do wish it had been longer, though. Many of the subjects deserved longer chapters.
Revising Myths:
I have found this delightful page turner invaluable as I try to teach the complexities of cultural critique: Riordan's book helps us revise the usual reading of the beauty industry as repressive and male-produced. She's never pedantic and lets the objects and their histories speak for themselves. It's a thoughtful, and at times gleeful, women's history.
intriguing facts show just how crazy beauty can be:
Inventing Beauty is a fascinating and fun book to read, not only for its entertaining aspects but also for its intensely researched historical information. It brings to light information about women and what they thought about back in the 1800s, which is vastly similar to many things that the woman of today thinks about in terms of beauty.
The book did cover many different aspects of the body that women tried desperately to change, however I wish that it did even more. It was really interesting to... more info
Half interesting...:
I thought the portions of the book dealing with makeup to be the most interesting. What some women put themselves through! I definitely saw some parallels to our society today. Yet when it came to the chapters about hair removal and clothing, I was bored senseless. Is it, however, fascinating to see how our definition of "beauty" has changed over the years. I especially like the old advertisements and pictures the author included. Not bad, but those not specifically interested in women's clothing styles of... more info
