The Years of Grace (1950)

Marvelously daft anthology, edited by Noel Streatfeild, reads as an early self-help guide to beauty and poise for young ladies.

Broken-up into five parts: You, Your Home, Leisure, Sport, and Careers. Each section has multiple chapters, ranging from a history of underwear, a loving tribute to the innate royalty of Princess Margaret (clearly pre-scandal and miniskirt days), the importance of looking smart in the kitchen, and watching sport with your brother. There are some surprising contributions, including a chapter on care of the skin from Elizabeth Arden and another on going to the ballet from Rumer Godden.

While the book is dated and about as un-PC as you'd expect, it's amusing to dip into and an interesting look at that time.