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.

Sadly, the victims are humans.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. There is a powerful tension between the two realms of fashion and death. The truth is: clothes we wear are not just patterns cut and sewn together to make a garment, their story is much more macabre. Initiatives have also been taken at the political level with NGOs such as Green Peace launching the Greenpeace’s Detox Campaign (2012), which exposed textile-manufacturing facilities using toxic chemicals and water pollution. It explores the theme of clothing causing bodily harm to its makers and wearers by leaching toxins, transmitting disease (skin cancer), and causing accidents (fire).

It depicts the intersections between dress and medical histories. In academics, Dr Alison Matthews David’s research is groundbreaking. There are initiatives fighting this plague. Fashion (manufacture) is addicted to hazardous chemicals. It goes beyond Vogue’s pages or Zara’s window displays. Put aside appearances and think health implications. Death’s implication in fashion is much more evil. Moreover, high-end Fashion enjoys advertising Death in campaigns (Zombie Boy as the face of Thierry Mugler’s, 2011).įinally, “La Mort” inspires publications, which design influential fashion editorials (Richard Avedon for The New Yorker, 1995) Candidly, Fashion tends to play with symbols and representation of death (Alexander McQueen’s skull). In literature, they were caught in a very intellectual conversation (Giacomo Leopardi in “Dialogue Between Fashion and Death”, 1824). Fashion is lethal.ĭeath seemed to have always teased Fashion. Because of his changing nature, he constantly feeds you with renewed pleasure. He makes you feels good, you adore him, you even cherish him. Although he seems fine, he creeps around, proud and ready to strike. He has a rare condition called “split personality”. It’s a bloody fairytale with a morbid ending. The main protagonist, Fashion, is the cruel and destructive character. Well! Think twice before you tell this story.

Young girls grow up thinking that, one day, they will have a closet full of pretty dresses and killer (literally) shoes. Fashion is a serial killer disguised as a prince charming.

Killer Style by Alison Matthews David