Fashion Victims
The Dangers of Dress Past and Present
by Alison Matthews David
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Pub Date Sep 24 2015 | Archive Date Jan 04 2016
Description
From
insidious murder weapons to blaze-igniting crinolines, clothing has been the
cause of death, disease and madness throughout history, by accident and design.
Clothing is designed to protect, shield and comfort us, yet lurking amongst
seemingly innocuous garments we find hats laced with mercury, frocks laden with
arsenic and literally 'drop-dead gorgeous' gowns.
Fabulously gory and gruesome, Fashion
Victims takes the reader on a fascinating
journey through the lethal history of women's, men's and children's dress, in
myth and reality. Drawing upon surviving fashion objects and numerous visual
and textual sources, encompassing louse-ridden military uniforms, accounts of
the fiery deaths of Oscar Wilde's half-sisters and dancer Isadora Duncan's
accidental strangulation by entangled scarf; the book explores how garments
have tormented those who made and wore them, and harmed animals and the
environment in the process. Vividly chronicling evidence from Greek mythology
to the present day, Matthews David puts everyday apparel under the microscope
and unpicks the dark side of fashion.
Fashion Victims is lavishly illustrated with over 125 images and is a
remarkable resource for everyone from scholars and students to fashion
enthusiasts.
Advance Praise
“A highly engaging and thought-provoking book. Informative, entertaining and unsettling, Fashion Victims is a history of death by dress for fashionistas and scholars alike. Read it!” – Susan J. Vincent, University of York, UK
Marketing Plan
Chapter 1. Diseased Dress: Germ Warfare
Chapter 2. Toxic Techniques: Mercurial Hats
Chapter 3. Poisonous Pigments: Arsenical Greens
Chapter 4. Dangerous Dyes: A Pretty, Deadly Rainbow
Chapter 5. Entangled and Strangled: Caught in the Machine
Chapter 6. Inflammatory Fabrics: Flaming Tutus and Combustible Crinolines
Chapter 7. Explosive Fakes: Plastic Combs and Artificial Silk
Conclusion: The Afterlife of Fashion Victims
Bibliography
Index
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781845204495 |
| PRICE | $40.00 (USD) |
Links
Average rating from 34 members
Featured Reviews
Mandy J, Reviewer
Fascinating and meticulously researched exploration of the dangers inherent in what we have worn over the centuries. Dyes, constrictive clothing, chemicals and fire risks – simply getting dressed has sometimes turned out to be bad news. Beautifully illustrated, this is a book to savour and refer to again and again. A must for anyone interested in clothes and fashion, or simply in social history. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
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