How do we understand Glamour"? Has it empowered women or turned them into objects? Once associated with modernity & the cutting edge is it entirely bound up with nostalgia & tradition? This unique & fascinating book tells the story of glamour. It explores the changing meanings of the word its relationship to femininity & fashion & its place in twentieth century social history. Using a rich variety of sources
- from women's magazines & film to social surveys & life histories
- Carol Dyhouse examines with wit & insight the history & meaning of costume cosmetics perfume & fur. Dyhouse disentangles some of the arguments surrounding femininity appearance & power directly addressing feminist concerns. The book explores historical contexts in which glamour served as an expression of desire in women & an assertion of entitlement to the pleasures of affluence finally arguing that glamour can't simply be dismissed as oppressive or as male fantasy but can carry celebratory meanings for women."