High Noon on April 4: “A History of Beauty, Fashion and Disease”

Carolyn Day, an associate professor of history at Furman University, will talk about how the deadly disease tuberculosis impacted early 19th century British fashion and perceptions of beauty when she speaks at the High Noon spring lecture series Wednesday, April 4.

Her talk, “Consumptive Chic: A History of Beauty, Fashion & Disease,” begins at noon at the Upcountry History Museum-Furman. It is free and open to the public.

How is it possible that a terrible disease like tuberculosis could be considered beautiful and even fashionable? Day will discuss how it was sexy to look like you were dying of tuberculosis in the Victorian period and how women dressed to make themselves look that way.

This is the second of four lectures by Furman professors in the spring series. The remaining talks feature economics professor Jason Jones (April 11) and earth and environmental sciences professor Matthew Cohen (April 18).

All lectures begin at noon and last one hour.  The Upcountry History Museum/Furman is located at 540 Buncombe Street in downtown Greenville’s Heritage Green area.

Day is the author of the book, “Consumptive Chic: A History of Beauty, Fashion, and Disease,” which was published last fall. She joined the Furman faculty in 2012, and teaches courses in British and European history as well as the history of medicine. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University, a master’s from the University of Cambridge, and a doctorate from Tulane University.

A complete schedule of High Noon events can be found here.