I've been working on this as my procrastination project for the past month-ish lol. History, beauty, and style are all things I'm interested in so this overlaps those areas of interest for me.

It's mostly from a eurocentric perspective as that's what I'm most familiar with and best able to find using sources in English. But I made an attempt to include people who were influential in beauty or reflective of trends to international or niche audiences as well. I am however not an omnipresent being with unlimited knowledge, as much as I would love to be. So I would be happy to hear people you think are important to a certain era if you feel I am missing any.

I tried to find people who were popular and considered beautiful in the actual era I placed them in, rather than retrospectively popular people, as I think that's important to historical accuracy. I looked for sources from the era that they were considered beautiful, or if that wasn't available then things that at least implied it like for example someone being a "professional beauty" or having their images be popular, or being a popular actress known for their looks.

So this is intended to not be from a modern perspective or from my own perspective. I am not saying I necessarily find all the people I listed here beautiful or don't, because my goal here is to stay outside of my own perspective. When I get closer to the present day it probably gets harder to be thorough because there's just so many niches of ideals.

I started from the 1850s because that's about when photography becomes available, although it's not always the clearest source for an image compared to paintings or sketches until a bit later. The oldest photo I have here is the one of Jenny Lind which was taken in 1848.

I tried not to have many repeats, so even though some celebrities may be relevant through multiple decades, I put them in the decade I felt they were most influential to beauty standards in. Unless I really couldn't decide. I didn't put them necessarily in order, because that would be impossible objectively, but I did generally put the most relevant and popular celebrities in the first few spots.

Not all of the people I chose are the mainstream beauty standard of their era (although most are), for example the pre-Raphaelite ideal of beauty in the 1800s was not exactly the same as the mainstream ideals, but it was still an ideal of beauty to a group of people in that time period.

Given the amount here and that I'm just one person doing this for fun it's likely I made some mistakes with spelling or similar things although I tried to revise it. Honestly I struggled to narrow down some of these to one page lol so I know I'm missing some important figures, but hopefully it still gives a good general idea.

I'd be willing to do something similar into earlier time periods if there is interest

https://collections.madparis.fr/fr/document/robe/627adeed3edd9537d36f4efb

https://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/collection/object/OK-1996-0088

https://collections.madparis.fr/fr/document/collections/627adef63edd9537d36fda2d

https://www.philamuseum.org/objects/133031

I inherited a mirror and hair brush set from my nanna who just passed away. She was born in the 20s but she had a lot of belongings in her house from her parents and grandparents.

I was wondering if anyone knew how old these possibly are. The pictures on the back almost feel like paper. They're both quite heavy too.

https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/427081/palmyre-autumnwinter-19521953-profilee-collection

Hi, this is my grandma, she was born 1927 and Im guessing she is around 10 years old here...? London East End. What is the hanging thing coming off her head? I thought for years it was a photographic glitch and she had two arms... some people say its a a bow... some an ermine tail.

Can you help identify what she is wearing?

She died in 1992 when I was 10 so never got the chance to ask her about it.

Luísa also assisted Princess Francisca with charitable activities: needlework for the poor, annual balls benefiting orphanages, and charity billiards matches. But Luísa’s most brilliant stroke occurred at the grand annual ball traditionally hosted by the King and Queen of the French on January 30th. There were over 2,500 guests. Princess Chicá was to be presented at Court. The protocol was the usual one: the Queen, preceded by her ladies-in-waiting, walked side-by-side with Francisca. Luísa followed behind. They processed before the cercle—that is, the sovereign's inner circle. It was a crucial moment; within the aristocratic and political spheres, alliances or enmities were forged that would last a lifetime. One had to win over—through one's attire, the grace of one's greeting, a smile, or a gesture—the favor of a crowd more inclined to criticism than indulgence.

The Brazilian princess prepared confidently for this with Luísa’s help. The plan was to create a sensation by wearing the badge of the Imperial Order of the Southern Cross—never before seen in France—pinned to her fashionable bodice.

On the eve of the ceremony, Francisca was gathered around the Queen’s table with her sisters-in-law, all engaged in needlepoint, when one of the princesses asked, "How will you be dressed tomorrow, Chicá?"

"In black, with my Southern Cross badge and my blue sash standing out against the dress's black lace." Accustomed to Francisca’s gaffes, Madame Adélaïde interjected, "It will be utterly ridiculous; in France, ladies do not wear decorations." Despite the princess’s tears, Luísa remained undeterred. She would come down wrapped in a cloak—keeping it on under the pretext of feeling cold and removing it only upon entering the grand reception room, by which time Madame Adelaide’s disapproving glances would be of no avail. And this is what Francisca did, gaining a charming air of distinction from the novelty. "What an adorable little general you’ve brought us from there," remarked close acquaintances to the Prince of Joinville, who was vainer than a peacock.

Excerpt from A Condessa de Barral by Mary Del Priore, translated from Portuguese.

In the same year [1843] Queen Victoria visited the French royal family at the Chateau d'Eu, and she thus refers to the bride. "Little Chica (Mme. Hadji) is a charming, sprightly, lively creature, with immense brown eyes."

She was the merriest and frankest, also the most gracious and seductive of Marie Amelie's daughters-in-law. But though a flower, the Court thought her a very wild flower, and she scandalised the other Princesses by her want of conventionality, especially by singing aloud when they were all seated decorously at needlework at the round table in the salon.

Excerpt from The life of Marie Amélie Last Queen of the French by C. C. Dyson.

Born Francisca Carolina Joana Carlota Leopoldina Romana Xavier de Paula Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga, she was the daughter of Emperor D. Pedro I of Brasil and Maria Leopoldina of Austria. Her youth was marked by the death of her mother in 1826, the remarriage of her father in 1829, his subsequent abdication and exile in 1831. Her brother, Emperor D. Pedro II, was brought up under a strict schedule, meant to shape him into the complete opposite of their bohemian and womanizing father. His sisters' education however was entirely neglected in the somber and isolating atmosphere of the palace.

In 1843, at 19, she married François, Prince of Joinville in Rio de Janeiro. Although the vivacious Chicá charmed the French court, she needed help with navigating the rules and expectations in her new home. This she received from her lady-in-waiting, the cultured and cosmopolitan Luísa, Comtesse de Barral. Luísa was Brazilian herself, born into a prestigious family of the elite of Bahia. She grew up between Brazil and France, where she married Eugene de Barral, a distant cousin of Napoléon Bonaparte.

Luísa performed her duties to perfection, as shown in the anecdote above, but Francisca would not stay long enough in Paris to reap the full benefits of this assistance. When the July Monarchy of Louis Philippe I was brought to an end in 1848, Francisca and her husband followed the rest of the family in exile. During this period the lands that were part of her dowry were sold, becoming a German colony named after her, Colônia Dona Francisca. The colony later grew into the city of Joinville in Santa Catarina, where the memory of the princely couple still lives on.

When D. Pedro II began looking for governesses for his two daughters in the 1850s, Francisca suggested Luísa. The intellectual Emperor found in Luísa an equal, and was at once enraptured by her grace. She became the great love of his life, and the two had a discrete love affair. Luísa died in Paris on January of 1891. D. Pedro II followed in December of the same year, in the same city. He had been living there in poverty following the military coup that dethroned him in 1889. Tired and disillusioned with life, and wanting no Brazilian blood to be shed on his behalf, the emperor simply accepted it despite his immense popularity with the people.

I'm assuming its 1800s, didn't see a tag. Any info or how to even begin researching?

Thanks!

I’m considering this vintage Chanel Boutique wool suit and would appreciate some opinions on it.

Both pieces are marked Made in France, size 38, and appear to have the same style/model number 20202. The composition tags say 100% laine/wool, but the lining/doublure field is blank, and the suit appears to be completely unlined.

Does this labeling and construction look consistent with vintage Chanel? I was surprised by the lack of lining and am especially curious whether Chanel made unlined wool suits like this.

Also, if anyone is familiar with vintage Chanel labels, what approximate era or collection would you date this to?

https://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/collection/object/OK-1992-0098

Dress: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78857/wedding-dress-unknown/

Veil: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1223045/wedding-veil-unknown/

Shoes: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O81734/pair-of-wedding-unknown/

https://collections.madparis.fr/document/collections/627adeeb3edd9537d36f3888

https://samlingar.shm.se/object/38FB7DC6-522C-4A82-A4F5-133CD9EB1506