'Drawing on novels by Olive Schreiner and Sarah Grand, and less well-known works by Margaret Oliphant (Kirsteen) and Gertrude Dix (The Image-Breakers), among others, Kortsch shows that dress culture can give a sense of female community, and that sewing is often represented as a rich, meaningful activity for female characters.' Times Literary Supplement
'There is a great deal in this book that is valuable, interesting, and enlightening, and it makes a significant contribution to the scholarship in the field of fashion and literature. Kortsch's command of current work is excellent, and the bibliography that she provides for her reader is in itself an excellent resource.' Cahiers victoriens et edouardiens
'Kortsch's analysis of corset trends and photographs of their wearers reflect her research in costume museum collections. Her histories of corset styles and alternative dress movements effectively synthesize key primary and critical sources. Overall, her use of relevant historical and literary scholarship is exemplary. Kortsch is a skilled, engaging writer. ... This book will benefit specialists in Victorian gender studies, fashion history, and material culture.' English Literature in Transition
'Bayles Kortsch's clear, well-informed and very readable examination of Victorian dress culture enhances her readers' own dual literacy and successfully establishes the importance of the relationship between dress culture and Victorian women's writing. By examining in detail the import of the signs these writers were offering through dress, Bayles Kortsch significantly opens up their texts and offers an original insight into the modes through which the question of women's role in Victorian society was being debated.' Women: a cultural review