Review by Booklist Review
Corsets, open-crotch drawers, farthingales, chastity belts, and bullet bras all find their place in Keyser's revealing history of women's underwear, which goes beyond a mere accounting of fashion trends. As stated in her introduction, undergarments are closely tied to the complex interactions of gender, sexuality, politics, and body image, and Keyser incorporates these topics with unblushing candor. Early chapters take readers through the evolution of underwear's form and function, from basic bindings to lingerie and corsetry, noting that a lady's underwear options were dictated by her class and shifting beauty ideals typically dictated by men. The male gaze is directly addressed in sections describing the rise of the bombshell during WWII and Victoria's Secret, originally created to sell lingerie to men. Similarly, women's rights and the reappropriation of female sexuality (thanks, Madonna!) get their due diligence, as do modern companies supporting trans individuals. Inset boxes offer relevant trivia, while illustrations utilize iconic images of women who shaped, embodied, or challenged an era's notion of femininity. This multidisciplinary, discussion-worthy text reshapes how we view history.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-The biologist and writer offers a fascinating examination of an often under-explored facet of life-underwear. Undergarments for women have evolved throughout the centuries from simple, plain cloth tunics and elaborate corsets made with steel or whalebone stays and to today's contemporary bralettes and more. Historically, Keyser asserts, underwear is designed to create what ever is perceived as a perfect body. Examples are the Gibson Girl and today's Victoria Secret Angels. The book is divided into eight chapters that follow a historical time line and place the garments in perspective with the events and culture of the time period discussed. Chapters are illustrated and contain sidebars. The writing utilizes contemporary language and examples, citing Beyoncé and ad campaigns that challenge stereotypical views of beauty. Highlights of the book are the author's citation of women historians, writers, and entrepreneurs. VERDICT A bit niche but endlessly fascinating, a great addition to nonfiction collections.-Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community College, Mt. Carmel © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Spanning several centuries in eight succinct chapters, Keyser's narrative takes a look at women's undergarmentstheir history, political and social implications, sexual and fashion statements, and complex evolution.Told in chronological fashion from Greek and Roman times, the account begins by explaining how underwear originated as supportive leather or cloth straps. Keyser is careful to clarify that the record-keeping was done by men, so modern understanding of the purpose of these undergarments is limited. Fabrics and materials used over the ages range from leather to latex, all in a dizzying variety of forms including farthingales, corsets, bustiers, and bras. Generously distributed throughout the book are images and anecdotes that contextualize the use of undergarments during different periods and in various countries. While the subject matter can be interesting at timesmany women give up their corsets during World War I so that the steel can be used instead to build an entire battleshipKeyser struggles to keep a consistent tone. She often toggles between explanations of women's oppression and how later undergarments symbolized empowerment and self-expression. As the chronicling gets closer to the present day, the book shifts to discussions of body image, exploitation, advertising, unions, and celebrities and their influences. The brevity of the chapters may leave readers with little sense of closure or only partial understanding.A serviceable introduction to the history of women's undergarments, with some nuggets of importance and insight. (source notes, selected bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
