Killer Outfits: UVA Collection Spotlights Deadly Designs Through History

The term “fashion victim” might bring to mind someone who participates in a regrettable trend or has a penchant for clashing patterns and garish color pairings. But some styles from the past and present make that moniker literal. The University of Virginia’s Historic Clothing Collection, hosted by the Department of Drama, includes a multitude of garments that have poisoned, choked and burned their wearers or the workers who made them. From arsenic dyes to “father-killer” collars, these styles in some cases claimed the lives of thousands. UVA Today met with the collection’s manager, Marcy Linton, to learn more about these items and get a close-up look.