The Cult of Beauty in the 20th Century

Victorian morality viewed cosmetics with suspicion because they were perceived to be an illegitimate substitute for real inner moral beauty. The construction of eroticized female bodies across all social classes was thus one of the most formidable cultural accomplishments of early 20th century consumer culture. It's like you go anywhere in London and someone is trying to put some explicit sex appeal in your face on some kind of ad, she says.