I'm going to cite this book as the reason I wear jeans and t-shirts, because fashion is, literally, a killer throughout history. Extensively researched and never boring, this book is filled with tales not just of those who perished for their fashionable taste but also includes those who died creating those fashions. Terrible and tragic, but a brilliant read. ( )

Fashion Victims examines the hidden perils of fashion and beauty throughout history. The author approaches the topic through a mostly Western lens, from lead-laced face powders popular during the Victorian era to arsenic-dyed clothes and mercury-soaked top hats worn in Europe and America. It was surprising to read about the historical dangers that women willingly subjected themselves in order to appear fashionable, although I suppose it is not so different from people today damaging their health by wearing Louboutin stiletto heels or carrying oversized shoulder bags. However, I was disappointing by the omittance of notable fashion follies from other countries like foot binding (practiced in China until the early 20th century) or lip plates (traditionally worn by some African and South American tribes). I would have also liked the author to have written more about the dangers of fashion today, such as the microplastics pollution generated from polyester clothing. ( )

Fantastic, detailed history of the dangers of clothing throughout history, full of striking and at times humorous illustrations. At times I actually exclaimed out loud while reading. Very surprising and enlightening!

A great accomplishment; very well done. Extremely enjoyable read.

**eARC netgalley** ( )

This is a fascinating look at the various perils posed by our clothes from the dawn of the Industrial Revolution onwards -- from arsenic and aniline dyes to catching clothes in machinery and combustible crinolines. The focus is primarily on Europe and North America in the beginning, then expands to the rest of the world as the author discusses the dangers we face with our clothes today. Generally speaking, the past dangers affected both the wearer and the factory worker: a person wearing a dress dyed with an arsenic-based dye could succumb to poisoning just as easily as the person manufacturing the dress. Today, however, a lot of the dangers posed by our fashions are borne disproportionately by the people making the clothes: the labourers working in sweatshops under appalling conditions to create clothes that will be discarded in landfills three months from now. Granted, the environmental costs of discarding everything so quickly will affect the entire planet, but nowadays it seems as though many of these costs are externalized; for many in the Western world, it's out of sight, out of mind.

The information in this book is well presented and well laid-out, with carefully chosen photographs whose relevance is clearly explained. The endnotes for each chapter appear right after the chapter to which they apply, making it easy to look them up, and the bibliography at the back provides avenues for further reading. The book itself is a sizeable hardcover, but it's not too thick. There are a few gross parts: namely, a couple of images of wax figures showing symptoms of poisoning, and more than a few mentions of testing poisons on animals (especially rabbits). Overall, though, this is a highly interesting book that is very easy to plow through in a few hours. Recommended for those who enjoy books about medical issues in the real world and books about chemical elements (e.g. The Arsenic Century, The Elements of Murder). ( )