Globalization hasn't only changed the way we do business: it's had an impact on what we consider to be beautiful, too. Just as many lament the McDonalds and Starbucks on every corner, where once there might have been a local restaurant, so too has what people wear become homogenized in our Global Village. Love Levi's? Buy them practically anywhere. Want a pair of New Balance shoes in Eastern Europe? There's a specialty shop for that.
Before mass communication, and television in particular, there used to be quite a difference in what we thought was attractive, as this list of postcards from 1900-1910, collected by user PostMan on flickr, shows. Which photo is the most surprising? Vote on the photos below, or if you have any vintage shots of ladies' fashion, post them!
More info: Flickr (h/t: designyoutrust)
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Luzon Woman From The Philippines
Japan Female-warrior
This picture is Not of a man: "[...] Recent research indicates that Japanese women participated in battles quite a lot more often than history books admit. When remains from the site of the Battle of Senbon Matsubaru in 1580 were DNA-tested, 35 out of 105 bodies were female. Research on other sites has yielded similar results." http://listverse.com/2013/08/06/10-fascinating-facts-about-the-samurai/
Gypsy Girl With Mandolin
Anna May Wong Was The First Chinese American Movie Star, And The First Asian American Actress To Gain International Recognition
my grandma was named after her :) but I never saw her picture till this she is so beautiful
Young Algerian Girls
Lily Elsie, English Actress And Singer
Berberian Girl
Anna Pavlovna Was A Russian Prima Ballerina
Rita Martin
Unknown Lady With Book
Nepaly Lady
Unknown Young Lady In Traditional Dress
Queen Mary Of Romania
Unknown Lady
Agnes Ayres Was An American Actress Who Rose To Fame During The Silent Film Era
Unknown Lady With Book
Unknown Japanese Woman With Umbrella
Gabrielle Ray Was An English Stage Actress, Dancer And Singer
Unknown Lady With Book
They sure did like to read, didn't they? And I mean, that's what I usually do when I get my hands on a good book - I put on my heels, find a really uncomfortable position and show my underwear.
Louise Derval
I don´t know what´s more shocking... the tiny little waist or the dead bird on the hat!
Sisters From The Philippines In The 20's.
Unknown Japanese Lady With Long Hair
Carolina “la Belle” Otéro Was A Spanish-born Dancer, Actress And Courtesan
Young Vietnamese Woman With Sword
Bare footed and armed, she looks powerful and capable. A functional and real beauty
Miss Valli Valli
Unknown Tonkin Lady With Big Hat
Princess Viktoria Luise Von Preußen
Unknown Lady With Long Hair
It has to be her hair, my hair looks like that when it's air dryed , kind of hard to tame.
M. Thermonde
Tamil Girl
Unknown Gypsy Girl
Unknown Japanese Woman With Umbrella
I imagine what colour was that kimono because even on this picture it looks amazing
Two Pretty Young Ladies
Beduinin
Beautiful Geisha
Cambodian Girl
Unknown Lady, Vintage Erotica
Bet my grandma flirted with my grandpa like that. She was born in 1896. Died at 103.
Unknown Lady With Big Hat
From her look I'm betting that wasn't the first photo attempt balancing that hat--the dress is so beautiful it just detracts from it.
Margaretha Geertruida Macleod Better Known By The Stage Name Mata Hari
Vesta Tilley Was A Star Of The English Music Hall Circuit For More Than Four Decades
Unknown Lady With Flowers
It looks like she is cross-eyed that's why. Her right eye is angled wrong.
Two Unknown Young Ladies
Unknown Lady With Cigarette
Unknown Lady In Nice Dress
Couldn't help but wonder how many animals went into making up that entire outfit.
Unknown Lady With Big Hat And Umbrella
Matilda Alice Powles, An English Music Hall Performer
French Show Girl Backstage
Russian Opera Singer Makarova
Young Japanese Lady
Burmese Dancing Girl
Unknown Lady
Georgette Delmare
Tamil Girl From Ceylon
Unknown Lady
Vintage Erotica
Unknown Geisha
The woman in #9 looks super uncomfortable, which is kind of indicative of many women in all time periods, placing aesthetic beauty before comfort. EFF that ... also the woman in #8 creeps me out ... I think its her teeth... I can't.
#9 was in a photoshoot, so it was probably the photographer who asked her to sit like that. And I agree about #8's teeth
Load More Replies...The woman in #9 looks super uncomfortable, which is kind of indicative of many women in all time periods, placing aesthetic beauty before comfort. EFF that ... also the woman in #8 creeps me out ... I think its her teeth... I can't.
#9 was in a photoshoot, so it was probably the photographer who asked her to sit like that. And I agree about #8's teeth
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