Beauty Regimes: A History of Power and Modern Empire in the Philippines, 1898–1941 by Genevieve Alva Clutario (review).

"Beauty Regimes: A History of Power and Modern Empire in the Philippines, 1898–1941" by Genevieve Alva Clutario is a book that explores the role of beauty and fashion in the Philippines during the transition from Spanish to United States to Japanese imperial regimes. Clutario analyzes the impact of sartorial material culture on people and empire, highlighting the centrality of clothes, cloth, and spectacle during this colonial period. The book delves into the sartorial practices of Filipina women, the role of spectacle in reaffirming U.S. economic stability, the transnational Philippine beautification industry, and the use of fashion to reaffirm identity and challenge social hierarchies. Clutario's research is thorough and provides valuable insights into the intersections of gender, empire, race, and class in the Philippines. [Extracted from the article]