Book Signing and Talk with Elizabeth L. Block
Thursday, September 12th
6:30 pm
Gather with us on September 12th for a book signing and talk with Art Historian and author Elizabeth L. Block in conversation with hairstylist and founder of SALON Rubi Aguilar. Rubi and Elizabeth will discuss Elizabeth’s research on hairdressing in the late 19th century and how it correlates with the world of beauty today.
Elizabeth Block’s book Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing (MIT Press; September 10, 2024) celebrates the cultural power of hair by looking at the beginnings of hairstyling, entrepreneurship, and product development in the United States in the late 19th century. The book reestablishes the formidable presence of hair by focusing on the places and spaces in which it operated. Here are the untold stories of business owners, many of whom were Black or mixed-race. Trending styles of the seasons, from the pompadour to the Gibson Girl bouffant, worn by society women and actresses alike, are highlighted. Haircare routines— dry shampoo was all the rage—are revealed in eyebrow-raising detail.
Signed books will be available for sale by Lofty Pigeon Books.
RSVP
About Elizabeth Block: Elizabeth L. Block, an art historian, is a Senior Editor in the Publications and Editorial Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Dr. Block earned her PhD in art history at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, with a focus on 19th-century U.S. painting. She also holds an MA in American Studies from Columbia University, and a BA in English from The George Washington University.Dr. Block's book Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing, will be published by MIT Press in September 2024.
Her book Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion was published by MIT Press. It is the winner of the Victorian Society in America book award 2022, and was shortlisted for the Association of Dress Historians 2022 Book of the Year.
Her articles appear in American Art, Town & Country, and Slate. She provides interviews to BBC News and BBC Woman's Hour, "The Gilded Gentleman" podcast, and "Dressed" podcast. She speaks widely at private and public venues, including the National Arts Club and New-York Historical Society.
About Rubi: Rubi Aguilar is a NY-based hairdresser represented by Julian Watson Agency. She runs Salon, a creative studio centered around the intersection of hair and culture.
About Lofty Pigeon Books: Lofty Pigeon Books is an independent neighborhood bookstore that opened on August 26, 2023, in Kensington, Brooklyn. We are a community-focused gathering space with a curated, dynamic selection of books of all genres and for all ages. An online store and robust events program for kids and adults round out our offerings.