The Lady's Stratagem is a collection of early instructions on what was perceived as a female duty: To be agreeable. This required meticulous attention to appearance, manners, and management of social events. The core sources are six important French manuals, newly translated into period English. These are supplemented by excerpts from 23 rare English, French, and American publications. Fashion & Costume. Detailed information is imparted on choosing clothing appropriate to each time of day, and to the wearer's appearance, age, and social position. Instructions are given for laundering, dyeing, and storing garments. Sewing & Needlework. Step-by-step directions are given for making stays; for most kinds of woman's garments, trimmings, and accessories; and for mending and alterations. Comprehensive instructions are also given for millinery, knitting, and embroidery. There is no comparable English-language needlework reference for the 1820s. Beauty & Hygiene. An intimate picture of daily life is drawn by recipes for beauty treatments, cosmetics, and perfumes. Particulars include how women bathed, cleaned their teeth, laced their stays, and dressed their hair. Manners & Customs. Entertaining descriptions are given of the proper behavior for all social occasions.