Forbidden Fashions: Invisible Luxuries in Early Venetian Convents (Costume Society of America Series)

A fascinating and well-written as well as well-researched description of the vagaries of convent life in Venice over several centuries.

Very informative with lots of history.

The author has done extensive research -I learned a lot based on reliable sources and I immensely enjoyed this book - beautifully written!

This book is extremely informative and accessible. If you are interested in women's history or Venice - or both! - you will enjoy this book.

Full disclosure: I got to read this book way back in 2010 as a paid expert reviewer during the publisher's reviewing process (I am a theatrical costume designer and costume historian and am periodically hired to do this) and I am delighted that this book made the cut and is now out in the world. As I wrote to the publisher at the time: "This book is not only needed, but a great pleasure to read. I admit I raced through it in a few hours, and had to force myself to backtrack and go over sections to find parts worth re-editing. The author seems to meet her own stated objectives, without tediously or repetitively beating a point to death, a rarity in academic prose. The written coverage is adequate without being overwhelming, and I do not recommend adding to something that so perfectly gets to the point, includes good, interesting illustrative quotes, and then moves to the next point without laboring matters...."So, having stated that I did make a nominal amount from the publisher back in 2010 for writing those words above, (and much more nitpicking advice), they have not paid me a nickel for writing this: This is a remarkably fun book. It explains a curious socioeconomic situation for upper class families in Venice c.1500-1800 who routinely dumped "superfluous" daughters into convents to save dowry money. This is why, to put it bluntly, nuns in Venice in this era tend to act a bit more like "Girls just wanna have fun", than the usual women religious. So this book has extensive quotes from nun's diaries and letters, detailed lists of the various trousseau requirements of an upper class bride vs an upper class nun, and lots of stories of involuntary nuns getting the better of authorities that want them to simply fade away as if they never existed.Overall, it is a curiously uplifting story, of how literally thousands of women managed to live lives with greater agency than they were given, and forced a social system (devised by their families to incarcerate them), into a fairly comfortable series of small communities of single women. Despite the occasional stories of a few nuns with more scandalous ambitions, mostly these women were fighting to simply wear normal nice, individual clothing, have occasional contact with people from the the outside world, and to be able to get some money for their (sewing) work, all things most modern nuns take for granted, but these nuns were demanding, and getting it well over a hundred years or more prior to the relaxation of most monastic rules after the Second Vatican Council. We see tale after tale of some officious person telling these "involuntary nuns" to put up and shut up, only to be evaded, defied, or even forced to back down openly.I can't wait to read bits if it to my Aunt, Sister Murphy. A most happy and voluntary nun, who also likes visitors, bright clothes, and music concerts at her convent.

Fascinating and detailed account of an invisible world. Very readable though still authoritative and seems well researched. Would be good to have more illustrations. Useful addition to the library of anyone interested in Venice or fashion - or in my case, both!

sie hätten dort ein besseres Leben.Isabella Campagnol schrieb ein Buch, das nicht nur die "Modeinteressierten" faszinieren wird, sondern jeden, der der wahren Geschichte Venedigs auf der Spur ist. Mithilfe bekannter Wissenschaftler, Angehörigen bekannter venezianischen Familien hat eine Kunsthistorikern, mit Spezialgebiet Kleidung, Textilien und Dekoration die Spuren der Frau in der Serenissima verfolgt.Hier wird der Einfluss der "Serenissima", der Politik sowohl auf die Klöster als auch generell auf die Frau im Venedig vornehmlich der Renaissance dargestellt. Die "unverheiratete Frau" hat mit einem undurchsichtigen Schleier, der sowohl Gesicht als auch Oberkörper verbirgt, die Strasse zu besuchen... Es gab strikte Bekleidungs-Codes, bereits im 16. Jahrhundert beschrieb Francesco Sansovino in "Venetia cittá noblissima et singulare" . Auch die "Karnevalskostüme" waren einer order, einem Gebot unterworfen. Patriarch Querini beschrieb und beklagte "Seiden-Hosen, Juwelen, Pelze und Uhren" nach einem Besuch eines Klosters....Ins Kloster gehen oder heiraten? (Maridar o Monacar) ist ein besonders interessantes Kapitel in diesem Buche. "Venezianische Frauen waren in der Stadt selten gesehen" (S.25) - denn ihr Platz war das "Haus". 1517 heiratete eine Tochter der berühmten "Grimani-Familie" und trug ein Kleid "zur Hälfte weisser Stoff, mit Gold" - und wurde deshalb angeklagt. 1519 wurde eine Tochter der Foscari-Familie beschimpft, es würde "Jeder machen, was er mag, auch wenn es gegen das GESETZ (!!) ist" sie trug ein weisses Brautkleid mit goldener Verzierung.... Es gab (S.86) "geheime Bücher", wie man sein Haar pflegt, aufhellt... Auch dies war allerdings der Justiz unterstellt. 1620 wurde "Suor Chiara del Calice" vor dem Rat der 10 angeklagt, sich zu parfümieren und "nachweislich" die Augenbrauen zu zupfen.Das Buch wird vervollständigt mit einer Aufzählung (S. 127) der üblichen "Mitgift" einer venezianischen Jungfrau, die in ein Kloster eintritt, (Aufzählung mehrerer Klöster) einem Glossar bezüglich diverser angeführter Ausdrücke in venezianischem Dialekt, die Durchsicht der der Autorin helfenden Personen und Organisationen lässt erkennen, dass es sich hierbei um ein fundiertes Werk handelt. Das Buch ist einem Format und einer Qualität erschienen, die Applaus verdient.