They say that beauty is pain, but some people have taken this saying a bit too literally in the name of fashion. Dangerous fashion and beauty trends have been around for centuries, and not only were they uncomfortable, but they were sometimes even deadly.
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From corsets and crinolines to poufs and foot binding, historic fashion trends walked a fine line between questionable and downright harmful. Take a walk down the memory lane as we look back at some fashion and beauty crazes that took the common phrase pretty hurts to a whole new level.
Corsets
As far as dangerous fashion garments go, corsets don’t need an introduction. It’s not surprising that corsets are one of the most controversial fashion items of all time. However, there was a time when no self-respecting woman could imagine leaving her home without one.
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In addition to being impractical, the corset’s tight lacing could lead to a long list of issues, with breathing difficulties being the most common. In more critical cases, regular corset-wearing could lead to fainting and poor digestion, and we’re pretty sure that Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t the only woman who dreaded wearing them.