Publisher's Synopsis
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 toxic history of dress, in myth and reality. Drawing upon numerous visual and textual sources, from nonsensical mad hatters and lice-ridden soldiers, to the fiery deaths of Oscar Wilde's half-sisters, the book explores how garments have actually, purportedly, or mythically, tormented those who made and wore them. 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 100 images and is a remarkable resource for everyone from scholars and students to fashion enthusiasts.
