Dressing up with Blushing Roses Representations of Ideal Characters for Young Women in the Late Victorian Period

DOI
  • SAKAI Taeko
    Faculty of Integrated Arts and Social Sciences, Japan Women's University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • ブラッシング・ローズを纏う—ヴィクトリア朝後期イギリスに於ける若い女性のキャラクター表出—

Description

In the late Victorian period, adorning one's dresses and parasols with blushing roses became increasingly popular with young British women. Although not an unusual rose species, blushing roses acquired a symbolic value, and were widely commercialized in the form of a book (Language of Flowers ). The language of blushing roses, “ If you love me, you will find me," emphasised ideal womanhood, so that the roses immediately became an acceptable fashion for young women. The blushing rose transformed itself from just another flower in the rose family to a symbol of young, modest, and beautiful women, as well as to fashionable commodities. This process was, however, complicated. It entailed the changing interpretation of facial expressions (blushing), the establishment of the symbolism of roses, the horticulture of roses, and the ways of representing ideal characters through one's dresses and accessories. This essay examines the ideological structures of blushing roses, and through it, explores Victorian desires and values.

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Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1390001206332546304
  • NII Article ID
    130004510458
  • DOI
    10.11428/jhej.61.37
  • ISSN
    18820352
    09135227
  • Text Lang
    ja
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • CiNii Articles
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

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