Title: Why would anyone wear that? : fascinating fashion facts /
Authors: Stall-Meadows, Celia,; Widener, Leslie Stall,
Year: 2013
Subjects: Fashion History; Clothing and dress History; Exoticism in fashion.
Abstract: "Bustles. Tight-laced Corsets. Caged crinolines that encased the hapless wearer in hoops of steel. Why would anyone want to wear such things? Yet, you can be certain that no lady of the Victorian upper class would choose to leave home without them -- and she would complete her look with a feather-and-flower-festooned bonnet as befit the latest fashion. With a blend of wisdom and wit, Why Would Anyone Wear That? explores extreme fashions from around the world. Throughout history, men and women have turned to clothing and accessories to adorn and accentuate parts of the body. Some of the fashions, like bloomers, were surprisingly functional. Others, like powdered wigs and hobble skirts, were inconvenient and uncomfortable. And a few particularly painful practices could even permanently disfigure the wearer, like brass coils worn in Burma to lengthen the neck and the custom of binding of women’s feet to fit tiny lotus slippers in Song dynasty China. Presenting dozens of the most peculiar fashions, including shoes, hats, jewelry, undergarments, and outerwear, the book provides insightful commentary, placing the garments and accessories in the proper historical, social, and cultural context."--Publisher description.
Contents: Hennins -- Mad as a hatter -- Feathered hats -- Cowboy hats -- Powdering -- Scented cones -- Ruffs -- The Hope diamond -- The Koh-i-Noor- diamond -- Giraffe women -- Muslin fever -- Burqas -- Zoot suits and teddy boys -- Leisure suits -- Breast binding -- Flea furs -- Corsets -- Caged crinolines -- Bustles -- Chastity belts -- Bloomers -- Pumpkin breeches -- Hobble skirts -- Poison rings -- Codpiece -- Parti-colored hosiery -- Chinese lily feet -- Poulaines or cracows -- Chopines and pattens -- Running shoes -- Disposable fashions -- Interpreting and predicting fashion.