The Modern Venus: Dress, Underwear and Accessories in the late 18th-Century Atlantic World

Underwear and accessories were essential components of the 18th-century woman's wardrobe, acting as cultural currency and shaping her silhouette, social and cultural situation, and understanding of late 18th-century life. The Modern Venus explores these elements through material, archival, and visual approaches, with over 125 color images.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The 18th century saw a significant transformation in the way women dressed, with a wide range of undergarments and accessories becoming essential components of their wardrobes. These items not only shaped their bodies but also expressed their character, sociability, fashionability, and even political allegiances. These so-called ephemeral fashion flights were not mere peripherals or supplementary elements but rather highly charged artefacts that played a crucial role in contemporary society.

The Modern Venus, a groundbreaking book published in 2015, delves into the significance of these wardrobe elements in 1770s and 1780s Britain and the Atlantic World. It explores how they contributed to the transformation of fashionable dress as it reached new heights and volumes. By dissecting the female silhouette into regions of the body and types of dress, the book offers a fresh perspective on dress history. It combines material, archival, and visual approaches to dress history, drawing on a rich range of sources such as painted portraiture, satirical prints, diaries, memoirs, and more.

One of the key themes of The Modern Venus is the importance of these overlooked garments in defining not just a woman's silhouette but also her social and cultural situation. By examining the ways in which women dressed, the book sheds light on the complex interplay between fashion, identity, and society during the late 18th century. It demonstrates how dress was used as a medium and mediator in women's lives, shaping their interactions with others and influencing their sense of self.

The book is filled with over 125 color images, providing a visual feast for scholars, students, and costume lovers alike. These images not only showcase the beauty and intricacy of the garments but also offer a glimpse into the social and cultural context in which they were worn. The Modern Venus is a remarkable resource that contributes to our understanding of late 18th-century life and the role of fashion in shaping women's identities. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of fashion, gender, and society.

Weight: 786g
Dimension: 190 x 247 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350293373