Mourning Dress By Lou Taylry

The study of costume history not only tells us the information about the individuals that wear them, but also helps us understand their social mores and economic status. In her book, Lou Taylor examines the history of mourning wear and provides the readers an understanding of how material culture shaped and developed the practices of mourning. Although dated, it still offers a great detailed survey of the mourning costume and traditions. Lou Taylor is not only an author but also a dress historian, designer, and professor of Dress and Textile History at the University of Brighton. She is also a member of the Fashion and Textiles and Art History and Complementary Studies Boards of the Council for the National Academic Awards. Her interest

Her research gives us the related issues involved with the development of the mourning culture, such as European funeral rituals, influence from the Royal court and its sumptuary laws. She also discusses the influence of mourning jewelry, colors, and the textile industry, which is mainly relating to the Victorian culture. Taylor goes into great detail when comparing the practices between the different social classes and how these practices made its way down the social ladder during the nineteenth-century, breaking social barriers between the different social classes. She uses historical examples, such as articles and newspapers of that era to back up researching and information about this

The photographs she used in the book help heighten and illuminate text as well. This book is a great resource for those who are interested in Victorian mourning especially with her great research using material culture and its influence on the social strata, but could be used more as a reference book. Her credentials and research on this material is greatly shown by providing valuable literature on the history of mourning costume as well as providing the comparisons from different cultures. The construction flow of the book balances out with its organization when discussing the different time periods and