ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

Czech Female Scientists as Fashion Consumers in the Early 20th Century

• In Event: Mediating Knowledge: Self(re)presentation of a European Scholar Across Political Regimes 2

English Abstract

This paper seeks to reconstruct the visual style of female scientists from the Czech lands during this period, examining the specific characteristics of their visual self-presentation. The core research questions will address the manner in which these female scientists adorned themselves—including aspects such as clothing, footwear, fashion accessories, and hairstyles—as well as the extent to which contemporary fashion trends were reflected in their presentations at social events, and which particular trends were evident. This research examines the distinctive attributes present in the attire of Czech female scientists, analyzed within the framework of the various social classes of the former society—namely, the upper class, middle class, and lower class. It seeks to investigate the extent to which these individuals adhered to the stylistic norms associated with their respective social origins. Furthermore, the paper traces the evolution of the expression of femininity through clothing over time, including instances of its intentional suppression, which may have been influenced by the necessity to conform to the predominantly male environment characteristic of the scientific community. The primary research objective is to investigate the provenance of the attire worn by female scientists, specifically discerning whether these garments were self-fabricated, purchased as ready-to-wear items, or custom-made. This paper is predominantly grounded in an analysis of periodicals from the era, which provide photographic documentation of relevant contemporary events, and is further enriched by supplementary research drawn from various museum and archival resources, including the personal fonds of female scientists. This inquiry is situated within the broader context of the author’s research on fashion and tailoring practices in the Czech lands during the first half of the 20th century.

Author

• Andrea Veverkova, Institute of the History and Archive of Charles University, Prague