Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2019)

Starred 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.

Kirkus Reviews

From lead-based cosmetics to radioactive wristwatches; from arsenic-green gowns to sandblasted denims: Fashion's victims are sometimes the wearers and sometimes the creators.The introduction references Oscar de la Renta's coining of the phrase "fashion victims," noting that the pages to follow, while not ignoring his definition, will expand it to include more literal victims: "people who have suffered physical pain, injury, and worse, attempting to look more attractive, or to make others look more attractive." Three luxuriously illustrated chapters tackle heads, middles, and legs, respectively. The first leads off with one of history's more-famous tales of fashion-related occupational hazards: the use of mercury-cured felt by hatmakers from the 1730s into the 1960s. The text mentions the disturbing fact that, despite compelling evidence of mercury poisoning, England never banned its use; the dearth of currently ill milliners comes instead from felt's having lost its fashion cachet. After exploring three other head-related tales, the book moves on to an entertaining history of corsets and their reputations, including a note about the 2016, Kardashian-promoted "waist trainer." There is also an excellent double-page spread comparing two factory catastrophes: the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in New York and the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh. The text uses puns, alliteration, and a conversational tone, but it never crosses the line into disrespect or sensationalism. Colorful, original silkscreens, historical photographs, and vintage art complement the magazine-style format.Accessible and informative. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

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.)

School Library Journal (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Gr 5-8 From Horrified Heads to Unlucky Legs, fashion journalist McMahon and fashion scholar David examine trends that proved to be dangerous, if not fatal: exploding celluloid hair combs, flammable pajamas, way-too-high heels, and silicosis in workers who distress blue jeans. The title and cover art accurately indicate the intensity of the goreenough to interest older elementary readers without inducing nightmares. Occasionally illustrated skulls and line-drawn droplets of blood accompany archival images such as men picking lice from clothing, and a photo of firefighters at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. A concluding page reminds readers "Don't Blame the Victim" and speaks to worker safety, and government's role in reducing risk. The book includes "mad hatters," how green become associated with poison (thank you, arsenic), and "Radium Girls" who are buried in lead caskets. Colorful text boxes appear often, and decorative borders and lines break up blocks of text. The book also includes sources and an index. VERDICT An engrossing choice for stout-hearted readers, whether fashion-forward or not. Suggest to fans of Georgia Bragg's How They Croaked and How They Choked . Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX