The Height of Fashion

The main character in Kiss of Death is a slave to fashion who embraces the opportunity provided by the Great War to break free of the constricting garments, styles, and practices of the Edwardian era.

Evolution of Dress in WWI

The First World War sparked a marked change in women’s fashion as hemlines shortened (check out those ankles!) and clothing became a lot more practical. Chemise-style blouses became more popular, and the pigeon-style “S” bend and constricting corsets disappeared.

The Torches of Patriotism

During the First World War, governments, civilians, and soldiers all prized smoking for its morale-boosting qualities. In particular, the act of smoking a cigarette was seen as a fashionable act of rebellion by the new modern woman of the upper and middle classes, and as an essential aid to the drudge of industrial labour by working-class women. In New Zealand this trend began well before the war, and by 1911, society ladies were puffing away so assiduously that the cigarette had become an essential fashion accessory. Concerns about the number of boys taking up the habit led to the Juvenile Smoking Suppression Act in 1903.