May 15th: Secrets of Gilded Age Hairdressing with Elizabeth L. Block
Bowery Boys Talks at the Montauk Club presented by Bowery Boys Walks
Elizabeth’s talk, based on her latest book, Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing, will introduce to audience members the cultural power of hair by looking at the beginnings of hairstyling, entrepreneurship, and hair products in the United States in the late 19th century.
Trending styles of the seasons, from the pompadour to the Gibson Girl bouffant, worn by society women and actresses alike, will be highlighted. Haircare routines—dry shampoo was all the rage—are revealed in eyebrow-raising detail.
Elizabeth will speak in detail about the haircare and dressing secrets of society women in New York, including the Astor and Vanderbilt families.
Thursday, May 15th at 7 pm
Montauk Club in Brooklyn
A book signing will follow the talk.
This talk will take place at the historic and beautiful Montauk Club, a Gilded Age gem established as a private club in 1889.
Highlights of the talk:
- Learn the ins and outs of fashionable hairdressing in the Gilded Age
- Take a peek at the earliest hair salons
- Get the story of how (and how often) women washed and styled their hair
Rates
$20 per person
Duration
Talk: Approximately 90 minutes, including a Q&A and slide presentation
(Doors open at 6:30 pm, talk starts at 7 pm)
Please note: The Montauk Club is a private club and only members can purchase food or drink at the bar upstairs.
Location
Venue: Montauk Club, 25 8th Ave, Brooklyn
Your Lecturer: Elizabeth L. Block
Elizabeth L. Block, an art and cultural 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 American painting. She also holds an MA in American Studies from Columbia University, and a BA in English from The George Washington University.
Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing (MIT Press) is available now, and has been featured in Forbes, Hyperallergic, Daily Art Magazine, Town & Country, The New York Post, and more. It is the winner of the Costume Society of America‘s 2025 Millia Davenport Publication Award.
Listen to Elizabeth Block on The Gilded Gentleman History Podcast.