Cover Image

Killer style : how fashion has injured, maimed, & murdered through history

by McMahon, Serah-Marie,

Format: Print Book 2019
Availability: Available at 7 Libraries 7 of 7 copies

Available (7)
Location Collection Call #
C.C. Mellor Memorial Library Children Non Fiction J 391 McM
Location  C.C. Mellor Memorial Library
 
Collection  Children Non Fiction
 
Call Number  J 391 McM
 
 
CLP - East Liberty Children's Non-Fiction Collection j GT518.M36 2019x
Location  CLP - East Liberty
 
Collection  Children's Non-Fiction Collection
 
Call Number  j GT518.M36 2019x
 
 
CLP - Main Library First Floor Children's Department - Non-Fiction Collection j GT518.M36 2019x
Location  CLP - Main Library
 
Collection  First Floor Children's Department - Non-Fiction Collection
 
Call Number  j GT518.M36 2019x
 
 
CLP - Squirrel Hill Children's Non-Fiction Collection j GT518.M36 2019x
Location  CLP - Squirrel Hill
 
Collection  Children's Non-Fiction Collection
 
Call Number  j GT518.M36 2019x
 
 
Monroeville Public Library Juvenile Non-fiction J 391.009 MCMAHON
Location  Monroeville Public Library
 
Collection  Juvenile Non-fiction
 
Call Number  J 391.009 MCMAHON
 
 
Mt. Lebanon Public Library Young Adult Non-Fiction YA 391.009 McM
Location  Mt. Lebanon Public Library
 
Collection  Young Adult Non-Fiction
 
Call Number  YA 391.009 McM
 
 
Northland Public Library Children's Nonfiction J 391 M22
Location  Northland Public Library
 
Collection  Children's Nonfiction
 
Call Number  J 391 M22
 
 

Summary
The clothes we wear every day keep us comfortable, protect us from the elements, and express our unique style--but could fashion also be fatal? As it turns out, history is full of fashions that have harmed or even killed people. From silhouette-cinching corsets and combustible combs to lethal hair dyes and flammable flannel, this nonfiction book looks back at the times people have suffered pain, injury, and worse, all in the name of style. Historical examples like the tragic "Radium Girl" watchmakers and mercury-poisoned "Mad Hatters," along with more recent factory accidents, raise discussion of unsafe workplaces--where those who make the clothes are often fashion's first victims.

Co-authored by a scholar in the history of textiles and dress with the founder of WORN Fashion Journal , this book is equal parts fab and frightening: a stylishly illustrated mash-up of STEAM content, historical anecdotes, and chilling stories. Nonfiction features including sidebars, sources, an index, and a list of further reading will support critical literacy skills and digging deeper with research on this topic.
Contents
Murderous mercury hats
Catastrophic comb bombs
Dangerous hair dye
Lethal lead makeup
Strangling scarves
Constricting corsets
Alarming lice
Flaming flannelette
Poisonous green
Risky radium
The radium girls
Factory catastrophes
Restrictive skirts
Deadly denim distress
Fatal footwear fiascos
Blazing ballerinas.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "Fashion historians McMahon and David serve up looks that kill in this riveting exploration of the perils of fashion through the ages. Between lead paint, mercury-mad hatters, and exploding combs, this book is a succinct history of the hazards of fashion and cosmetic trends. But don't be fooled; this book isn't just macabre titillation. Though there is a healthy dose of the morbid and a quirky incorporation of myth, the authors give equal weight to the rightful debunking of tall tales. They also zero in on the dangerous business of fashion: the corner cutting and poor working conditions that caused factory fires and collapses, radiation exposure, and silicosis poisoning, all reminders of the hazards of ""fast fashion."" The authors give well-researched consideration to non-Western fashion history, an inclusive take that is all too rare in surveys of this kind. Readable and well organized, the book incorporates primary-source illustrations, advertisements, and photographs into the information-rich pages, while Wilson's quirky woodblock prints add some texture to the sleek design. The authors do an especially seamless job of using contemporary parallels as practical proof that even fashion history repeats itself. A fun, yet thoughtful look inside fashion perils past and present.--Ada Wolin Copyright 2019 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "Chronicling more than just fashion faux pas, Worn Fashion Journal founder McMahon and textiles researcher Matthews David detail the often-fatal injuries that style trends have wrought throughout history. The Canadian pair divide their book into three parts ("Horrified Heads," "Miserable Middles," and "Unlucky Legs") and 16 short chapters, spotlighting hazards ranging from mercury in millinery to arsenic in green dye, radium-infused products, and deadly scarf and high-heel mishaps. Alliterative wordplay ("Flaming Flannelette," "No More Mr. Lice Guy") and a matter-of-fact narrative keep the subject from feeling overly macabre. Wilson's vignettes are paired with archival photos that illustrate the subject's sometimes gruesome consequences for consumers and producers. Dire situations don't stop with the wearers; the authors underline hazardous conditions for workers, including the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and how the practice of sandblasting denim can cause silicosis ("The biggest risks in this book were always taken by those most desperate for a better life"). This fascinating account of some of history's harmful haute couture and other fads concludes with an extensive bibliography and index. Ages 9-12. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved."
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Subjects Clothing and dress -- Health aspects -- History -- Juvenile literature.
Clothing and dress -- History -- Juvenile literature.
Fashion -- History -- Juvenile literature.
Clothing and dress -- History.
Fashion -- History.
Publisher Toronto, ON :Owlkids Books,2019
Contributors Matthews David, Alison, author.
Wilson, Gillian, 1982- illustrator.
Language English
Description 48 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 27 cm
Bibliography Notes Includes bibliographical references (page 46) and index.
ISBN 9781771472531
1771472537
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