This picture is from an issue of the Ladies Gazette of Fashion. It is a newspaper that shows which types of clothing are popular during a specific time period. I chose this item because it reminds me of my late sister, Phyllis. Throughout her entire life, she was always noted for her beauty and style by others. She was easily the prettiest of my sisters and I. The picture shows several different dresses being worn by beautiful women, and I think that Phyllis would have looked amazing in each one of them. Phyllis was a big fan of the paper, and often somehow ended up with featured clothing, especially towards the later period of her life when receiving gifts from Mr. Darrell. I do feel that if someone were to find this newspaper, they would be very surprised that an object like this is under my care. Usually, these types of pictures do not interest me, as I am more of a plain dresser compared to my siblings. However, I couldn’t help myself from getting an issue after the death of Phyllis. Her death initially affected me immensely. During our time running the photography studio, I felt almost like a mother figure to the rest of my siblings due to both of our parents being gone. After Phyllis passed, it felt not only as if I had lost a sister, but as if I had also lost a child. I wanted to make sure that I have something that I can always refer back to when I am feeling a strong sense of grief, and this newspaper proved to be the very object I needed.
Editorial Commentary: Gertrude owning this newspaper piece gives a very obvious look into gender and sexuality during this time period through the outfits that the women were wearing, along with attitudes towards the way they looked in general. In this picture, we can see 7 women and a young girl all wearing elaborate dresses. While these dresses are extremely beautiful, they are also very conservative, similar to most women’s clothing during the Victorian era. During this time, it was strongly frowned upon for women to have revealing outfits and show off their bodies as it was seen to be in line with women like actresses and prostitutes who were of extremely low social status at the time. The women in this newspaper, and most definitely many other newspapers at the time were glorified for looking and dressing very timid and traditionally. On top of that, women were rarely appreciated for things outside of their appearance. Phyllis is an extreme version of the importance of women’s looks shown in the Victorian Era. Throughout her experiences, it quickly becomes apparent to any researcher that Phyllis is an individual who from the outside is seen almost only for her looks. By others, she is described as many characteristics that compliment her attractiveness, but when around her sisters, she is more so seen as things like mischievous, clever, and other descriptions that apply to her mannerisms rather than her appearance. Gertrude owning this newspaper better helps us understand the relation between women’s appearances and the social norms of the time. Especially how it reflected on her sister’s dilemma of not being recognized for many things outside of her image.
Citations:
Dixon, Ella Hepworth. The Story of a Modern Woman. 1894. COVE, 2020.
Ladies Gazette of Fashion, and London Metropolitan Archives. “Costumes.” The London Picture Archive, 1872, collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/view-item?i=24474&WINID=1605746145721.