Fashion to die for
many people now put themselves through painful and unconfortable beauty routines or fashion choices. Examples of these painful uncomfortable routines are waxing or tight clothing. The past historical routines were highly extreme an d deadly, often leading to death.
Crinolines
The 19th century fashion for women required an extremely small waist and crinolines were a designed item of fashion to wear under a garment to present the desired silhouette.The crinoline is a underskirt that is created either out of horse hair, strong thread or steel.
These designed crinolines caused many accidents including women being swept out to sea when caught by the strong winds This then led drowning due to this massively heavy underskirt drowning them and pulling them down. Another danger these crinolines caused was by getting caught in spokes of carriages and then being dragged down the street. This meant the women would be dragged along which could lead to strangulation. A final danger these crinolines caused were by catching alight very easily when passing by candles. In 1863 In Chile 2-3000 people died in a church fire due to women blocking the exit with their crinolines.
Corsets
Small waists have always been desired to have since the elizabethan era. Corsets were designed to create a slim tiny waist and an upright posture. This was done by the corset pulling the waist in with panelled strong fabrics containing bone or metal, and this was tightened by lacing at the back. Corset wearing became dangerous as tight lacing gained popularity. The practice dangerously dislodged organs, caused internal bleeding, and deformed or broken bones.
Foot Binding
In china smaller feet were desirable and was a sign of wealth and class. It was though only farmers and manual labours had to walk properly and that having a crippled walk meant you were wealthy and seen as attractive. Foot binding or 'lotus feet" began around the 8th century and went on until recently. The foot binding started around the ages of 2-7 when bones were still. Feel would be soaked in a bath with herbs and water or urine depending on the family custom.
All toes apart from the big toe would be broken and folded and the ankle would also be broken and folded and bent back. This process of fashion would take years of using a series of tighter and tighter silk bandages until the feet were a ting three inches. This practice cut of blood circulation and would cause serious infections such as gangrene. Gangerene could be seen as a good thing in this practice as it good lead to loss of toes, making even smaller feet.
Lead make up
A pale complexion was extremely desirable In the Elizabethan England. Tanned skin showed how poor a person was as it meant they would be out in the sun working. However pale skin showed how wealthy a person was meaning they were rich enough that they didn't have to work. Women wore a foundation mixture which included lead made by extremely popular by Queen Elizabeth the 1st.
This often caused lead poisoning which was a very slow death that could take up to years. Symptoms caused by lead makeup included sever nerve damage, brain damage, headaches, abdominal pain, personality changes and a metallic taste in the mouth.
The farther killer
In 19th century Europe, high stiff collars were extremely fashionable for young men, especially dandies. Collars were always white and fastened to the shirt with studs.Collars were usually heavily starched and jutted up sharply. This was directly into the windpipe. The collars could cut of circulation and this could indicate to the neck swelling or cause asphyxia.There are even past stories of men falling and being stabbed in the neck by their collars, nearly dying.
Arsenic dye
In Victorian England a vibrant bottle green was extremely popular particularly in high society. The key ingredient of the dye was arsenic. The dangers that the dye caused was skin poisoning from seeping into the skin from the the garment.
It was a huge risk to those who were dying the fabric because they were continuously exposed to large amounts of arsenic in the dying process. It would dissolve into the skin from the garment and get into the bloodstream.
Combustible hair combs
Tortoiseshell is a classic pattern. Combs were Originally made from actually tortoiseshells, however from the 1800s they began to be made with a celluloid compound. This made the comb far more cheap and affordable easy to get hold of and popular. The celluloid compound was unstable and would easily combust. This meant sometimes it wouldn't even need a flame to set fire. The dangers of this comb caused fires in factories and homes.
Shoe Shine
In the early 1900s in Europe and America shine shoes were an extremely popular trend for young high class men. A variety of shoe polishes were made with a very effective but toxic chemical, nitrobenzene. When shoes were polished and let to dry the shoes would be safe when worn. However when shoes were polished and not left to completely dry, the chemicals from the shoe polish would poison the wearer. Extremely toxic fumes would be inhaled by the wear without realising. This would effect the wearer of the shoes Dramatically causing them to turn blue and loose conciousness. It was extremely toxic if the wearer of the shoes was drinking alcohol. The combination of the toxic shoe polish and the alcohol could cause death.
Chopines - Killer Heels
Chopines were an early form of platform heeled shoe which was massively popular among European women from 1400s-1600s.They were designed for women to wear and raise them above mud and dirty floors.
They were also designed to create the illusion of elongated legs.As the fashion grew Chopines were made higher and higher up to 30cm. Women wearing these supper high heeled shoes could not walk without a cane or an escort to support them. Women often would fall breaking ankles or even sometimes necks.
Fashion Victim
Fashion always goes in cycle. Toxic dyes and lead makeup are no longer produced or made as they now are banned. However, trends such as waist training and extremely high platformed shoes are in fashion again now and still are a serious danger. Skinny jeans has even had a warning for them being hazardous and dangerous.
My Design
For my killer fashion design I wanted to create something mysterious and sinister. However I still tried to embed pretty elements to make it appealing and daring towards the human eye. For my design I created a corset dress look with 'killer fashion' elements. The tightened cinched waist is presented with a daring leotard corset that features a slit to create a more modern look. This then grows out into a marvellous caged skirt mimicking the crinoline underskirt. I designed this to be cut out at the front to present a more futuristic style. Addition features I created on my design were deadly spikes on the caged skirt, and dangerously hazardous thigh high heeled boots. I also designed mysterious long sleeved gloves to compliment my sinister design. I featured an over sized bow on the back of the dress to incorporate an elegant and gloomy look, merging them both together.
Overall I really liked how my design turned out because it presents all styles of 'killer fashion' making a sinister yet unique look.
The feedback from my fashion history killer fashion design
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