History and Hearsay

"Father Killers" - Deadly Victorian Fashion | Edwardian Collars

Christina Season 2 Episode 9

Women don't have a monopoly on dangerous fashion trends. Edwardian men also sacrificed their health for the sake of wearing popular stiff collars. The collars were detachable, so they could be worn with different shirts, making them practical. But they also were so stiff that they choked numerous men when they fell asleep wearing them. 

As they dozed off, their head fell forward and the collar's rigid material blocked their windpipe. Other men also choked on their food when their collar was too tight. While it's impossible to know how many men died this way, there were enough cases to earn these stiff collars the nickname, "father killers.”
SOURCES: https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/what-not-to-wear/https://www.kickassfacts.com/why-didnt-britain-allow-dangerous-fashion-choices/#google_vignette
https://medium.com/the-illusion-of-choice/even-menswear-can-be-dangerous-those-edwardian-collars-969a102144af

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150624-when-fashion-kills