| Demorest's Illustrated Monthly | |
| Editor: | William Jennings Demorest |
| Editor Title: | Editor-in-chief |
| Founder: | William Jennings Demorest |
| Language: | English |
| Finaldate: | 1899 (print) |
| Country: | United States |
Demorest's Illustrated Monthly was a publication in the United States. It was published by William Jennings Demorest.[1] Jane Cunningham Croly served as its editor from 1860 to 1887. She helped it advocate for female education and employment. Other people who wrote for the paper included Louisa May Alcott and Julia Ward Howe.[2] The paper was part of Demorest and his wife Ellen Louise Demorest's retail store, publishing, and dress pattern business empire.[2]
The paper was established as Mme. Demorest’s Mirror of Fashions, a quarterly publication, in 1860. It became monthly in 1863 and attained its expanded title in 1864 after Demorset acquired New York Illustrated News and merged it into the publication. "Illustrated" was dropped from the title in 1865.[3] In 1879 it was retitled Demorest's Family Magazine. It later became Demorest’s Monthly Magazine.[2] Competition, including from Ebenezer Butterick, pressured the Demorest's business and their patten business was sold in 1887. The last issue of their publication was in 1899.
In addition to illustrations of fashions (plates), a dress pattern was stapled into editions of the publication.[3] It covered the fashions worn by Empress Eugenie. It included advertisement for Demorest comesmetics and corsets.[3] Illustrated including elaborate covers were created from wood engravings.[4] Ellen Louise Demorest was involved with the New York Medical College for Women, Welcome Lodging House for Women and Children, Sorosis club for women, and advocated for women workers including African Americans.[3]
Demorest's Young America and Demorest's Family Magazine Portrait Album were also published.
The Internet Archive has an 1861 edition of the publication online.[5]