Fashionable things in the USSR were harmful to health: what was dangerous for women to wear

Every woman wants to be in line with modern fashion trends and look stylish and bright. Soviet citizens were no exception, but because the USSR was unable to provide people with high-quality and comfortable things, girls often had health problems.

OBOZ.UA has compiled a list of things that were popular among Soviet women. In those days, fashionistas chose beauty even though they had to neglect comfort and health.

Stocking boots

Until the 70s, only boots were available in the USSR, so when stocking boots were imported from abroad, they immediately gained popularity. Fashionistas stood in line for hours to buy these shoes. But they were not only unusual and beautiful, but also incredibly uncomfortable. The boots squeezed the leg tightly, not allowing the blood to circulate properly, so they could not be worn regularly.

In addition, the frosts in the West were much milder than in the USSR, so women faced not only leg pain, numbness, and varicose veins, but also frostbite and colds.

Dresses and sweaters with the addition of lurex

Lurex is a metal thread that was woven into knitwear. It gave the fabric a shimmer and a solemn shine, but it also caused irritation and allergies. Nevertheless, women did not refuse to wear things with the addition of lurex and endured itching for days to look shiny.

Clothing made of synthetics

Previously, dyes only dyed synthetic fabrics well, so Soviet fashionistas preferred synthetics in their daily wardrobe. However, non-natural materials are not breathable, which can lead to overheating, sweating, allergic reactions, and skin irritations, especially if worn regularly.

Sunglasses made of dark glass

High-quality glasses are quite expensive, so it's no surprise. It was almost impossible to find them in the USSR. People bought frames with ordinary painted glass, which did not protect them from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Low-quality glasses only made the situation worse, because due to the fact that women could not squint while wearing dark glasses, they got even more UV light into their eyes than usual.

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