From time to time, history has a quirky way of demonstrating that just because something is popular, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. Fashion and beauty trends, in particular, have had their fair share of hazardous hiccups. In this foray into the annals of historical trends, we’ll take a stroll through some of the deadliest fads that humans, in their infinite wisdom, have dabbled in. Put on your lead-painted thinking caps and tighten those corsets; we’re about to dive into the top 10 trends that were literally to die for.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
Fatal Fads
From time to time, history has a quirky way of demonstrating that just because something is popular, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. Fashion and beauty trends, in particular, have had their fair share of hazardous hiccups. In this foray into the annals of historical trends, we’ll take a stroll through some of the deadliest fads that humans, in their infinite wisdom, have dabbled in. Put on your lead-painted thinking caps and tighten those corsets; we’re about to dive into the top 10 trends that were literally to die for.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
1. Arsenic Dresses
Late 19th century
In the 19th century, the obsession with vibrant and rich hues led to the incorporation of arsenic in fabric dyes. Yes, you read that right, the dresses adorned by women during this period were often laced with this deadly substance, which promised a vibrant green hue that was otherwise hard to achieve.
This fashion statement was indeed vibrant but carried the small side effect of causing arsenic poisoning, characterized by stomach pains, diarrhea, and eventual death.
Quite the price to pay for being the belle of the ball, wouldn’t you say?
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
1. Arsenic Dresses
Late 19th century
In the 19th century, the obsession with vibrant and rich hues led to the incorporation of arsenic in fabric dyes. Yes, you read that right, the dresses adorned by women during this period were often laced with this deadly substance, which promised a vibrant green hue that was otherwise hard to achieve.
This fashion statement was indeed vibrant but carried the small side effect of causing arsenic poisoning, characterized by stomach pains, diarrhea, and eventual death.
Quite the price to pay for being the belle of the ball, wouldn’t you say?
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
2. Foot Binding
10th century to early 20th century
From the 10th century all the way to the early 20th century, the Chinese practice of foot binding was perceived as a mark of beauty and femininity. This harrowing process, usually initiated before a girl reached the age of eight, involved forcibly breaking the arches of the foot and then binding them in a tight, constricting cloth. This grotesque tradition was carried out to modify the foot into a more ‘desirable’ and petite shape, often resembling a lotus bud, a symbol of purity and allure in Chinese culture.
The gruesome procedure inflicted immense pain and resulted in lifelong disabilities. Thankfully, with the onset of the 20th century, this painful practice was outlawed
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
2. Foot Binding
10th century to early 20th century
From the 10th century all the way to the early 20th century, the Chinese practice of foot binding was perceived as a mark of beauty and femininity. This harrowing process, usually initiated before a girl reached the age of eight, involved forcibly breaking the arches of the foot and then binding them in a tight, constricting cloth. This grotesque tradition was carried out to modify the foot into a more ‘desirable’ and petite shape, often resembling a lotus bud, a symbol of purity and allure in Chinese culture.
The gruesome procedure inflicted immense pain and resulted in lifelong disabilities. Thankfully, with the onset of the 20th century, this painful practice was outlawed
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
3. Lead-based cosmetics
Ancient Greece to the 18th century
Oh, how people have adored a fair complexion through the ages! And lead-based cosmetics surely helped. One small detail: chronic exposure to lead, a potent neurotoxin, resulted in a range of health issues, including but not limited to skin eruptions, hair loss, tooth decay, and in severe cases, even death.This toxic trend reached its zenith in the 18th century when the use of “ceruse”, a white lead carbonate, became the rage amongst the European elite.
Prominent figures like Queen Elizabeth I were known to have indulged in this beauty regimen, a toxic concoction that not only led to skin damage but also poisoned the blood, affecting the nervous and reproductive systems adversely. As the fatalities and health implications escalated, the dawn of the 20th century brought a wave of awareness about the adverse effects of lead-based cosmetics. Slowly but steadily, they were phased out with safer alternatives.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
3. Lead-based cosmetics
Ancient Greece to the 18th century
Oh, how people have adored a fair complexion through the ages! And lead-based cosmetics surely helped. One small detail: chronic exposure to lead, a potent neurotoxin, resulted in a range of health issues, including but not limited to skin eruptions, hair loss, tooth decay, and in severe cases, even death.This toxic trend reached its zenith in the 18th century when the use of “ceruse”, a white lead carbonate, became the rage amongst the European elite.
Prominent figures like Queen Elizabeth I were known to have indulged in this beauty regimen, a toxic concoction that not only led to skin damage but also poisoned the blood, affecting the nervous and reproductive systems adversely. As the fatalities and health implications escalated, the dawn of the 20th century brought a wave of awareness about the adverse effects of lead-based cosmetics. Slowly but steadily, they were phased out with safer alternatives.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
4. Radium Makeup and Watches
Early 20th century
In the early 20th century, radium was the darling of the cosmetic and watch industries. Who wouldn’t want a glow-in-the-dark watch or a face that quite literally radiated beauty?
However, this glowing trend had a dark side; radium is well…radioactive. Prolonged exposure caused radiation sickness, anemia, bone cancer, and death.
The dark underbelly of this glowing trend was unveiled when a group of factory workers employed to paint watch dials with radium-infused paint started showing alarming symptoms. These women would often point their brushes with their lips, ingesting small quantities of the radioactive substance every time. This practice led to devastating health consequences, including severe anemia, bone fractures, necrosis of the jaw, a condition horrifically termed as “radium jaw”, and an increased number of cancer cases.
It was not long before the connection between their ailments and radium exposure was established.
The young women were ominously dubbed the “Radium Girls.” Even now, standing over their resting places with a Geiger counter would reveal persistently high radiation levels.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
4. Radium Makeup and Watches
Early 20th century
In the early 20th century, radium was the darling of the cosmetic and watch industries. Who wouldn’t want a glow-in-the-dark watch or a face that quite literally radiated beauty?
However, this glowing trend had a dark side; radium is well…radioactive. Prolonged exposure caused radiation sickness, anemia, bone cancer, and death.
The dark underbelly of this glowing trend was unveiled when a group of factory workers employed to paint watch dials with radium-infused paint started showing alarming symptoms. These women would often point their brushes with their lips, ingesting small quantities of the radioactive substance every time. This practice led to devastating health consequences, including severe anemia, bone fractures, necrosis of the jaw, a condition horrifically termed as “radium jaw”, and an increased number of cancer cases.
It was not long before the connection between their ailments and radium exposure was established.
The young women were ominously dubbed the “Radium Girls.” Even now, standing over their resting places with a Geiger counter would reveal persistently high radiation levels.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
5. Ohaguro (Black Teeth)
Heian and Edo periods Japan
If you thought teeth whitening was the zenith of dental fashion, think again. During the Heian period in Japan, fashion-forward individuals indulged in a trend called Ohaguro, where they blackened their teeth with a mixture of iron filings and vinegar. Over time, this concoction caused teeth to decay and corrode, which, unsurprisingly, was not very pleasant or conducive to a healthy smile.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
5. Ohaguro (Black Teeth)
Heian and Edo periods Japan
If you thought teeth whitening was the zenith of dental fashion, think again. During the Heian period in Japan, fashion-forward individuals indulged in a trend called Ohaguro, where they blackened their teeth with a mixture of iron filings and vinegar. Over time, this concoction caused teeth to decay and corrode, which, unsurprisingly, was not very pleasant or conducive to a healthy smile.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
6. Tightlacing
16th to 19th centuries
Corsetry, a trend that spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries, had women donning tightly bound corsets to achieve the much-coveted hourglass figure. Despite giving a wasp-waist silhouette, the corsets compressed internal organs, causing respiratory issues and even rearranging the wearer’s anatomy. The notion that one had to “suffer for beauty” indeed held a grim truth in this era.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
6. Tightlacing
16th to 19th centuries
Corsetry, a trend that spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries, had women donning tightly bound corsets to achieve the much-coveted hourglass figure. Despite giving a wasp-waist silhouette, the corsets compressed internal organs, causing respiratory issues and even rearranging the wearer’s anatomy. The notion that one had to “suffer for beauty” indeed held a grim truth in this era.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
7. Crinoline Fires
Mid-19th century
Crinolines, those voluminous, cage-like structures worn under skirts, were the epitome of fashion in the mid-19th century. However, their size made them extremely prone to catching fire, leading to several tragic incidents where women were engulfed in flames. This fashion trend was literally too hot to handle.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
7. Crinoline Fires
Mid-19th century
Crinolines, those voluminous, cage-like structures worn under skirts, were the epitome of fashion in the mid-19th century. However, their size made them extremely prone to catching fire, leading to several tragic incidents where women were engulfed in flames. This fashion trend was literally too hot to handle.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
8. Belladonna Eye Drops
Italian Renaissance
During the Italian Renaissance, having sparkling, dilated eyes was considered attractive. This led to the trend of using belladonna eye drops to achieve the desired effect. Belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, is a plant with highly toxic
properties, and its use could lead to visual impairments and even death. People were essentially flirting with danger, all to achieve that mesmerizing gaze.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
8. Belladonna Eye Drops
Italian Renaissance
During the Italian Renaissance, having sparkling, dilated eyes was considered attractive. This led to the trend of using belladonna eye drops to achieve the desired effect. Belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, is a plant with highly toxic
properties, and its use could lead to visual impairments and even death. People were essentially flirting with danger, all to achieve that mesmerizing gaze.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
9. Chopines
15th to 17th Century
Before the stilettos, there were chopines. These were exceedingly high platform shoes popular in the 15th to the 17th centuries. These shoes could sometimes be over 20 inches high, making walking a perilous task. Worn as a status symbol, they were not only a tripping hazard but also caused ankle sprains and other injuries due to the unnatural height and instability.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
9. Chopines
15th to 17th Century
Before the stilettos, there were chopines. These were exceedingly high platform shoes popular in the 15th to the 17th centuries. These shoes could sometimes be over 20 inches high, making walking a perilous task. Worn as a status symbol, they were not only a tripping hazard but also caused ankle sprains and other injuries due to the unnatural height and instability.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
10. Edwardian Collars
Early 20th century
Starched to stiff perfection, Edwardian collars portrayed a sense of class and societal status. However, this stiff trend wasn’t merely about looks; it brought a significant amount of discomfort. These collars restricted neck movement substantially, leading to skin irritation and potential infections due to constant friction. Not to mention, the high starch content rendered them highly flammable, a dangerous trait in an age heavily reliant on open flames. This trend showcases the perilous paths fashion has treaded in history, sometimes prioritizing style over safety.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
10. Edwardian Collars
Early 20th century
Starched to stiff perfection, Edwardian collars portrayed a sense of class and societal status. However, this stiff trend wasn’t merely about looks; it brought a significant amount of discomfort. These collars restricted neck movement substantially, leading to skin irritation and potential infections due to constant friction. Not to mention, the high starch content rendered them highly flammable, a dangerous trait in an age heavily reliant on open flames. This trend showcases the perilous paths fashion has treaded in history, sometimes prioritizing style over safety.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
Image Credit: Wikipedia.
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Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
Image Credit: David Jackson/Wikimedia Commons.
