Review: Unique, Well-Written, and Interesting Read About Anne Boleyn's Clothing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 14, 2014
“Inside the Wardrobe of Anne Boleyn” is a fact-filled, interesting book about the style and clothing of one of history’s most notorious women, Anne Boleyn. It weaves together historical facts of her marriage to Henry VIII (and his pursuit of her before their nuptials) with detailed examinations of her gowns, from a black silk to tawny velvet.As someone interested in fashion, I found this book to be a fascinating read—not just based on what I learned about Anne Boleyn’s life and style, but on what I learned about the period in general. For instance, I didn’t know that women could have one dress with interchangeable sleeves, to make themselves look like they had a more varied wardrobe, or that dressing the queen kept many people employed full-time.This book is well-organized around both Anne’s wardrobe and the chronological facts of her life, from when she was a young girl being courted by a still-married king to her execution, and even a bit beyond into what style Jane Seymour brought to the English court. By including so much context about Anne’s life, the author even manages to evoke the suspense and tragedy of her time as a queen. I would recommend “Inside the Wardrobe of Anne Boleyn” to readers interested in Tudor history, readers interested in the evolution and study of fashion generally, and even to readers who enjoy historical novels such as Philippa Gregory’s “The Other Boleyn Girl.”