Killer Style

Did you know a woman was trampled because of her dress?
Did you know women glowed in their caskets because of their job?
Did you know six ballerina’s died because of their dresses?

Killer Style takes the reader on a journey through history and the chaos caused in the name of fashion. Bringing in elements of child labor, disasters, and subsequent social change, the authors connect the past, present, and the reader in an interesting way.

Some of the more interesting stops the authors make include killer hair combs (celluloid is very flammable, yet manufacturers insisted on making hair combs with it), hair dye that caused blindness and liver damage, the quest for the best and brightest colors, and the hobble dress. What some women went through in the name of fashion.

The book is filled with facts, deaths, pictures, and everything that will keep kids interested till the end. The authors provide just enough information to pique interest, which will encourage readers to ask questions and search for their answers.

I really enjoyed this book. I always like to hear about fashion and how it can be dangerous. I really like that this didn't just include the fashion wearers. This book takes into account those who create them and what happened to them. I love the photos include; many of tem really drove the point home.I hvae a macrbre sense of humor, so I loved this.

Arsenic laced dresses and lead-based makeup were fashion trends that killed. Hobble skirts and mercury-laced hats caused chaos. The new book Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History, acts as a short and interesting book for younger readers with an interest in the deadly history of fashion. 

Killer Style includes historical anecdotes, creepy stories, and also an index for readers who want to take their research a bit further. While the book is published by a children's book company,  I'd recommend this to children who are more mature readers. There are some pretty sad stories in here about collapsing jaws, people burning alive, and going crazy from mercury. In short, if you're giving this book to your children use your best judgement. 

Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History is available April 15, 2019 from Owl Books.

I actually read an ARC of a similar book last year - Killer Fashion by Jennifer Wright - but I liked this one a lot more. This book provides a surprisingly in-depth look [considering the length of the book] at several fashion trends from the past that got people killed either by wearing the finished clothing or in the production process. It also has several examples of pictures or advertisements from the time period the clothing was worn in.

What I liked most about this book was that it put the clothing into context with regards to the time period and also who it affected socially. Some of these trends were popular before people knew the product was harmful, and sometimes people just continued to wear it even though they knew it was bad for them. I also like how it discussed that the victims of these fashions were generally women - when wearing the finished product - or poor/immigrant workers - when making the initial product. I feel like the history of killer fashion is so tied into social issues like this and oftentimes authors don't want to delve into it, but it's incredibly important and I'm glad this author did.

Overall a very fun and simple but also informative book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history or fashion.

It is rare that I read a non-fiction book, even a kids book, without skimming over parts. This is that rare title. This book looks at what people have done through history to be “beautiful”. It includes the usuals like corsets, and heels. But then it also includes tidbits about real people who died, stories some of these styles would be found in, or were created around. It includes both real pictures and illustrations. The layout is lovely, and the book has a nice flow. I think other fashionista and wannabes are going to love it. I also really appreciate the cover, because unlike most fashion books, it does not have a “girly” vibe. It has a death vibe that will reach and and grab all kids. Plus the fatal fashion inside covers all ranges of gender. Loved this read.

Killer Style is a pretty interesting read! It reminds me of some of the fact books that I read as a kid in the 80s. Filled with gruesome details and colourful images, this will definitely appeal to those kids who like reading about darker material.

Each two-page spread covers a different deadly fashion trend and includes sidebars and pictures with even more interesting facts all about those people who've fallen victim to the crime of high fashion.

I did find the digital copy I had was difficult to read at times, but I think the size of the physical book will make that less of a problem.

4.5 stars rounded up for this delightfully macabre book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.

Loved it, factual but still funny and covering killer styles from history and present day. Overall a very fun and interesting book!

This children's book about dangerous fashions across history is seriously morbid-- which means I would have loved it as a child. I liked the design and layout of the pages and the inclusion of both historical photographs and illustrations. As an adult with an interest in the history of medicine and fashion, I've heard a lot of these stories before, but I do think they were adapted appropriately for the age group, although some will always find them too gross, gory, or macabre. I also really appreciated the inclusion of more modern examples, particularly those about the dangers of fast fashion for the people who manufacture it. Those kept the book from being solely a tale of "look what those silly old-timey people did before we knew better!" The conclusion similarly drove home this point. Just the right length for the audience as well-- longer nonfiction books don't circulate nearly as well in my library.

Filled with macabre humor and fascinating facts about history, science, and culture, Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, & Murdered Through History is a winning kids’ nonfiction title that will shock, delight, and educate in equal measure. The book examines literal fashion victims who have succumbed to everything from typhus to accidental strangling to radium poisoning because of clothing. Every aspect of this book is impressive — the breadth and depth of research, Gillian Wilson’s gleefully morbid illustrations, authors Alison Matthews David and Serah-Marie McMahon’s consistently informative and engaging tone — but what struck me the most was the incredible balancing act the authors pulled off. They revel in the gory details of poisonings, tramplings, and near-beheadings, but they always show the utmost empathy toward the victims. The authors even conclude the book by emphasizing our collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us and to hold corporations and governments to account to make the world safer for everyone. It’s an incredible accomplishment and easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

This is one of the most compulsively readable nonfiction books I’ve ever encountered. The art, text, and design work together perfectly to create a unified whole that is funny, weird, and enlightening. The text is sophisticated yet accessible; it’s a fun read that never talks down to its young audience or sugarcoats its often grisly subject matter. Alisa Baldwin’s book design is superb, creating an exciting and coherent narrative flow. An abundance of historical photos and illustrations enrich each section, and Gillian Wilson’s illustrations complement the wry commentary on death and misfortune.

Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, & Murdered Through History combines a love of fashion, history, and science with wicked humor and an unabashed enthusiasm for the macabre. My favorite pop culture discoveries fill a void that I didn’t even know existed; this title fills a very peculiar niche in kids’ publishing and makes me feel a little more complete now that it’s out in the world. I’m confident that there are a lot of young readers out there who will feel the same way. With a unique approach to STEAM and a subtle but clear overarching message of empathy and caring for the marginalized members of our communities, Killer Style is one of the best books of 2019.

My thanks to Owlkids Books for providing a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With every industry there is value in examining the dark side. Sure, fashion has value. It tells us about culture, can be a vehicle for change. It can also be incredibly dangerous. McMahon and David take us through several examples of the dangers. We see the physical dangers of wearing fashions like restricted movement and fire hazards; dangers in production like industrial poisons and factory conditions; social dangers like sweat shops. The cases span a range of history and are careful to point out any myths connected to each story. It's a fascinating read and would be a good choice for teens and tweens with an interest in fashion or social justice.

Wow, what a fascinating read! This book delves into some of the more deadly fashion trends throughout history, exploring not only the victims wearing the fashions, but the victims manufacturing the fashions as well, while maintaining a respectful, non-sensationalizing tone. The illustrations throughout the book are a perfect compliment to the text. I would've found this incredibly interesting as a child, and found it so as an adult as well! It has an added caveat of making one want to be a more conscientious consumer, from checking ingredients in cosmetics (99% of all hair dye contains para-phenylenediamine, a substance that can cause all manner of allergic reactions, even death, because it's the only known substance that will stick to gray hair) to only buying clothing made in factories that are regulated for worker safety. And for crying out loud, don't wear long scarves around machinery! Over all, a very informative and entertaining book for all ages.

A visually pleasing look at fashion that can kill! Shorter than you'd expect, but makes for a fact-filled read that doesn't linger too long on any one subject. Recommended for older elementary to middle school students with a macabre interest.