Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

3,000 Years Of Women’s Beauty Standards In A 3-Minute Video
User submission
101.4K
1.3M

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

ADVERTISEMENT

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that eye can see things very differently depending on where (and when) it is. Buzzfeed’s video staff explored this beauty trends idea by creating a video with live models showing us how the concept of an ideal woman’s figure has changed throughout history.

We all probably have some idea of how women from all of the different historical periods in the video dressed, but the idea that there were different ideal body types may not have occurred to many of us. The uniform white bathing suits that all of the beautiful women in the video are wearing help accentuate the differences between those beauty standards, doing away with other potential historical elements and fashion trends that we might have focused on otherwise like clothing or jewelry.

It all just goes to show that there’s no one right way to interpret feminine beauty and ideas of ideal body. Which historical period do you think “got it right?”

More info: Youtube

RELATED:

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

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    – 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)

    ADVERTISEMENT

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

    Roaring Twenties (c. 1920s)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    – 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)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    – 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

    ADVERTISEMENT

    1.3Mviews

    Share on Facebook
    Dovas

    Dovas

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw

    Read less »
    Dovas

    Dovas

    Author, Community member

    There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    TCIşılErdenGünal
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I should have lived during Italian Renaissance era(of course in Italy). ;))

    ChrisSmith
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is the golden age of Hollywood girl so big? No celebs looked like that in the thirties. Name me one.

    Lauren D Martin
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are right. It is a false hood that marilyn was a size 12. She had a 23" waist. Also, a vintage 12 is about a modern 6 to 8. This video has a lot of mistakes, including the white type over a pale background and women in terrible white swimsuits

    Load More Replies...
    LarissaLong
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Considering my natural body shape with no plastic surgery looks like kim Kardashian I love that I'm finally accepted. Im healthy and curvy.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    TCIşılErdenGünal
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I should have lived during Italian Renaissance era(of course in Italy). ;))

    ChrisSmith
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is the golden age of Hollywood girl so big? No celebs looked like that in the thirties. Name me one.

    Lauren D Martin
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are right. It is a false hood that marilyn was a size 12. She had a 23" waist. Also, a vintage 12 is about a modern 6 to 8. This video has a lot of mistakes, including the white type over a pale background and women in terrible white swimsuits

    Load More Replies...
    LarissaLong
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Considering my natural body shape with no plastic surgery looks like kim Kardashian I love that I'm finally accepted. Im healthy and curvy.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda