Tuberculosis: Angel Wings, Idiot Sleeves, and a Dumptruck Ass

Before there was heroin chic, there was consumptive chic. How did an objectively horrifying bacterial infection become the height of fashion and a marker of moral superiority, and why does it continue to matter today? In this episode, we discuss the surprising history of TB and its unfortunate, indelible effect on Western beauty standards.

 

CONTENT WARNING:

This episode contains graphic conversations regarding illness, weight loss, fat phobia, skeletal deformities, body dysmorphia and death. 

[31:00-38:00] Death of a parent 

 

All images from this episode can be found on our social media @VanityVeritasPod 

Special thanks to our resources for this episode! 

Consumptive Chic by Carolyn A. Day 

Making Faces by Lisa Eldridge 

Makeup A Glamorous History by Lisa Eldridge 

Erin Parsons video essays on her Youtube Channel 

Abby Cox 

Georgian Makeup Tutorial & Queen Victoria Makeup Tutorial by Amber Butchart & Rebecca Butterworth on English Heritage 

Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Allison Matthews Davis