From Head to Toe: Bound Feet, Bathing Suites, and Other Bizarre and Beautiful Things

Elizabeth Levin is chair of the Psychology Department at Laurentian
University.

From Head to Toe provides a whirlwind tour through the history of
fashion, using cross-cultural and historical facts to illustrate why we
dress the way we do in North America today. The book opens with a
description of the constraints women once faced (including corsets and
bathing suits that covered the body from head to toe) and the invention
of bloomers that enabled them to ride bicycles.

The chapter on men’s clothing details the history of neckties,
handkerchiefs, and the blue jean (did you know we own on average eight
pairs at a time?). In the chapter on hair, we learn about hair dyes,
wigs, shaving, and old solutions for hair loss such as rubbing the scalp
with lettuce leaves or hippopotamus oil. Subsequent chapters are devoted
to jewelry (interestingly, many early adornments were designed to make
the wearer less, not more, attractive), body painting and tattooing, and
shoes and the custom of foot binding.

Replete with clever illustrations, this highly readable book would be
great for a school project or just for general interest. Recommended.