Material Lives: Women Makers and Consumer Culture in the 18th Century

by Serena Dyer

Eighteenth-century women told their life stories through making. With its compelling stories of women's material experiences and practices, Material Lives offers a new perspective on eighteenth-century production and consumption. Genteel women's making has traditionally been seen as decorative, trivial and superficial. Yet their material archives, forged through fabric samples, watercolours, dressed prints and dolls' garments, reveal how women used the material culture of making to record and navigate their lives.Material Lives positions women as 'makers' in a consumer society. Through fragments of fabric and paper, Dyer explores an innovative way of accessing the lives of otherwise obscured women. For researchers and students of material culture, dress history, consumption, gender and women's history, it offers a rich resource to illuminate the power of needles, paintbrushes and scissors.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Fashion, Fashion History, Feminism

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2021

Reviews

[Berkleigh Southard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information included was new and interesting, and the stories of the women's lives were genuinely fascinating.

Unfortunately Dyer's tone comes off as academic in a stifling way. It felt like I was reading a thesis paper, in which Dyer felt the need to remind me of her thesis statement every two paragraphs. I wouldn't be surprised if this book started out as an academic paper of some kind, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that when I go to read a book, I want something with a bit more narrative flow.

If you are into fashion history, or women's history in general, I'd say it's still worth the read. Just know it's not going to be light reading.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess to skimming for the pictures but there is good stuff here.

I loved the chapter on Barbara Johnson who kept an album of snippets of all the cloths she had ever worn.

The chapter on the Swiss English baronet introduced me to "clothed" pictures where you cut out the picture and put the cloth on the back. I'd have loved that when I was a child.

The chapter of water colour yearly frocks was interesting mostly because it showed me I had the wrong idea of Georgian mourning attire. Only for the husband was it complete. For every other relative it was ribbands or a veil.

The doll chapter didn't capture me.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at how material culture can reveal history. This is the kind of research that really brings the past to life, reaching beyond written texts--through the examination of various kinds of making (largely textile-based)--to allow other voices, notably women's voices, to be heard.

[Annemiek · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books describes the stories of women who left hardly any to no written traces. By their material making they do record their lives and become real persons in stead of just names on paper of women who had some passtimes.

[Ellie Monks]

A wonderful piece of work! A great discussion of the change in consumer culture that took place in the 18th century.

[Germaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and clear. Fascinating

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating for anyone interesting in material culture, women's lives, or textiles of the 18th century!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

between 4 and 5 stars.

Review to follow

[Mayela Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and fascinating book.

[Keiran · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely terrible. It reads like a precocious college kid’s paper in their first even material culture class.