From Corsets to Curves: A Beauty Standards Timeline
From the ancient Greeks through today’s globalized world, beauty standards have changed greatly. Women have been expected to uphold different ideals in different eras, from extremely structured garments to natural curves, from delicate limbs to muscular strength.
Ancient Greece: Soft and Supple Beauty Standards
The ancient Greeks were dedicated to the tenet of soundness of body, which meant physical fitness, as well as beauty. Beautiful women had both a slender build and well-toned muscles.
Dark Ages: Concealing Beauty Standards
During the Dark Ages, dressing was dedicated to mimicking the silhouette of the ideal body in layers of clothing. Women wore corsets that pulled their hips inward and upward, emphasizing the curve between the waist and hips.
Renaissance: Artistic Beauty Standards
During the Renaissance, beauty standards were centered on the arts. A woman’s body was celebrated for the harmonious beauty of its proportions, enhanced by sumptuous clothing and hairstyles. The waist was still considered the centre of beauty, with corsets at the core but accentuating a softer silhouette.
Victorian Era: Restrictive Beauty Standards
The Victorian era saw women’s clothing become an even higher art form, with dresses requiring hoop skirts for volume and corsets for slimming. The constricting nature of these garments made it virtually impossible for women to be active and natural, leaving them vulnerable to fainting if they tried.
1920’s and ’30s: Boyish Beauty Standards
In the 1920s, social and political changes brought with them a new standard of beauty for women. Looser clothing gained popularity and corsets were cast aside altogether. Women’s beauty standards shifted to a more angular, “boyish” look that emphasized the legs.
1960’s to 1990’s: Uneven Beauty Standards
As the 1960s dawned, women’s beauty became increasingly divided. Standards fluctuated between flat-chested Twiggy, 1970s curvy Donna, the “waif” look of the 1990s, and athletic supermodels such as Cindy Crawford.
Contemporary Beauty Standards: Strong and Confident
In recent years, beauty standards have taken a turn toward greater acceptance and more inclusivity. Beauty magazines have begun hiring plus-sized models like Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday, and a growing number of women are celebrating what Mother Nature gave them, instead of fighting it. Women are challenging traditional beauty standards and embracing their natural curves and skin tones. This shift toward greater inclusivity and celebration of individual beauty promises a bright future for women of all walks of life, shapes, and sizes.
Conclusion: An Ever-Evolving Definition
The history of beauty standards reveals that the accepted ideals of beauty change with every generation. Throughout history, women have been expected to uphold different standards, from the muscular athletic bodies of ancient Greece to the ultra-skinny waif look of the 1990s. Today’s beauty standards promote individuality, strength, and confidence, embracing natural curves and skin tones. The beauty standards of tomorrow will be defined by the people who choose to celebrate all types of beauty.
