Book review: Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present

[labricoleuse]

I recently finished reading the excellent new book from fashion historian Alison Matthews Davis, Fashion Victims - The Dangers of Dress Past and Present, and my advice to the readership of this blog is, in short, get your hands on a copy. It's fantastic

Comments

[motorharp]

A boldly gory and thoroughly illustrated history of death by clothing, from blazing crinolines to mercury-laden fur.

This has got to be one of the best sentences I've ever read.

[labricoleuse]

Right? That felt like a tall order to fill when i read the release, but the book delivers.

[ladycelia]

At one time, I pretty actively collected "household receipt" books and house keeping books from the 19th century. I was astonished at the number of them that had instructions for dealing with "dress on fire" accidents. I have one book that has no fewer than 4 different scenarios for clothing on fire incidents!

[labricoleuse]

Oh wow, would you consider scanning/sharing those bits? That's fascinating. (And gruesome!)

[ladycelia]

I'll see if I can dig them out. May take a few days to photograph them. Would break the spines to try to scan.

[naeelah]

Thanks for the review. I keep eyeballing these deadly fashion exhibits and books, and obviously they're interesting to me, but right now, I feel like I'd just find them too sad. How much of it was ignorance of the biochemistry, and how much of it was utter disregard for people as long as you turn a profit?

[txreisende]

That brings up an interesting question...can the casual or home crafter safely test for the modern day hazards your lab discovered?