​The Victorians had a lot of dangerous habits, but their obsession with lethal fashion trends might just be the most terrifying one. ​From catching pneumonia in freezing, sheer Roman-style gowns to romanticising the pale, wasting aesthetic of “tuberculous chic,” the nineteenth century’s blend of strict beauty standards and unchecked chemical innovation produced a wardrobe that was to die for. ​In this online talk, the first of a new six-part lecture series, Dr Jay Sullivan will take you through the history of deadly Victorian dress, from the breathless reality of extreme corseting to the toxic allure of arsenic-laced green ballgowns and matching wallpaper. Meet the socialites who literally suffered for beauty, discover the perilous reality of the gaslit stage, and uncover the tragic truth behind highly flammable ballet gowns.