This October 1898 issue of The Girl’s Own Paper presents the popular British weekly’s mix of fiction, advice, music, and practical guidance for young women. Alongside its stories, the paper carried features on dress, needlework, and the accomplishments expected of late Victorian girls.
A staple of respectable households, the magazine shaped the tastes and aspirations of its readers, fashion among them. Its pages preserve the styles and domestic ideals of the period. For students of Victorian girlhood and dress, this number is available here as a free EPUB download. Taken together, its features sketch the world of the late-Victorian girl, where fashion, accomplishment, and propriety were closely entwined.