3,000 Years Of Women’s Beauty Standards In A 3 Minute Video

Uplifting Stories 10/15/15
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Everyone has heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” right? While this is true, everyone’s eyes perceive things very differently depending on when and where they are. In the video above, live models demonstrate the concept of what was thought to be the ideal women’s body type throughout history.

Obviously the women from these time periods might have dressed a bit different than the women in the video, but the point of the video is to demonstrate what the ideal body type was for woman during that time period. The bathing suit helped them articulate the differences between body types, without distracting everyone with jewelry or clothing. Do you think a certain historical period “got it right”? Let us know in the comments below!

Ancient Egypt (c. 1292-1069 B.C.)

  • Slender
  • Narrow shoulders
  • High waist
  • Symmetrical face

Ancient Greece (c. 500-300 B.C.)

  • Plump
  • Full-bodied
  • Light skin
  • Women were considered “disfigured” versions of men

Han Dynasty (c. 206 B.C.-220 A.D.)

  • Slim waist
  • Pale skin
  • Large eyes
  • Small feet

Italian Renaissance (c. 1400-1700)

  • Ample bosom
  • Rounded stomach
  • Full hips
  • Fair skin

Victorian England (c. 1837-1901)

  • Desirably plump
  • Full-figured
  • Cinched waist
  • Women wore corsets to achieve the ideal body shape

Roaring Twenties (c. 1920s)

  • Flat-chested
  • Downplayed waist
  • Short bob hairstyle
  • Boyish figure

Golden Age Of Hollywood (c. 1930s – 1950s)

  • Curvy
  • Hourglass figure
  • Large breasts
  • Slim waist

Swinging Sixties (c. 1960s)

  • Willowy
  • Thin
  • Long, slim legs
  • Adolescent physique

Supermodel Era (c. 1980s)

  • Athletic
  • Svelte, but curvy
  • Tall
  • Toned arms

Heroin Chic (c. 1990s)

  • Waifish
  • Extremely thin
  • Translucent skin
  • Androgynous

Postmodern Beauty (c. 2000s-Today)

  • Flat stomach
  • “Healthy” skinny
  • Large breasts and butt
  • Thigh gap
  • Women regularly get plastic surgery to achieve their desired look

h/t [boredpanda]

Higher Perspectives Author

Higher Perspectives Author is one of the authors writing for Higher Perspectives