The Gibson Girl (1910s)
Early in the 1900’s, companies hired illustrators to advertise their products since it was very expensive to print photographs in magazines back then. Charles Dana Gibson was one of the most well known of these illustrators, and his work was known for depicting women in corsets and dresses.
The Gibson Girl (1910s)
Camille Clifford
Camille Clifford was a model and actress who became synonymous with the Gibson Girl style as she was the most famous of these illustration models. One of her best known features was her 18 inch wasp waist that was created through wearing a tight corset underneath her dresses.
Camille Clifford
Flappers (Roaring ’20s)
The 1920’s saw a complete and dramatic shift away from the Gibson Girl. Flappers became the new coveted style. With cropped hair and loose dressed that didn’t define waistlines, Flappers also accessorized with hats. This was the time period of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote and changing the course of American history.
Flappers (Roaring ’20s)
Margaret Gorman
In 1921, Margaret Gorman was crowned Miss America. She had the ideal body type of the time, meaning she was long, lean, and even slightly boyish. This was a complete turnaround from the hourglass figure that was so coveted a decade before.
Margaret Gorman
Soft Siren (1930s)
After the Roaring Twenties came to a close, there was yet again a dramatic shift in ideal female body types. After the stock market crashed, the style for women shifted to more form fitting dresses, which heralded the classically feminine body type and saw the end of the boxier styled dresses of the 20’s.
The Soft Siren Of The ‘30s
Dolores Del Rio
Dolores Del Rio is a symbol of the old Hollywood glamour that epitomized the soft siren look during this decade. She was described as “roundly turned” and “warmly curved” by Photoplay magazine. The Mexican starlet was even said to have had the best figure in Hollywood at the time.
Dolores Del Rio
Star-Spangled Girl (1940s)
With the start of the Second World War, we see another huge shift when it comes to the ideal female body type. The war, which affected people globally, impacted Americans’ lives dramatically, including fashion. Long limbs and broad shoulders were now the most desired, and the “torpedo” or “bullet” bra also became increasingly popular in this decade.
The Star Spangled Girl Of The ‘40s
Betty Grable
Betty Grable was one of the actresses of the time that embodied the ideal woman n the 1940’s. She was one of the most popular pin-ups of the time, and it was quite common to find a photo of hers in many soldiers’ footlockers during this turbulent time.
Betty Grable
Hourglass Figure (1950s)
Even though curves were definitely in during the 1940’s, the 1950’s took things to the extreme and harkened back to the Gibson Girl days. Strong shoulders and straight body types were totally out and instead an exaggerated hourglass figure was the most desired. It was not uncommon to see magazine ads for weight gainers in order to widen the hips!
The Hourglass Figure Of The ‘50s
Marilyn Monroe
Certainly the most famous woman of her decade, it’s no coincidence that Marilyn Monroe embodied the ideal body type of the 1950’s. Her hourglass figure would become the symbol of femininity and desire for years to come. It’s no wonder she is still an iconic part of popular culture to this day.
Marilyn Monroe
The Twig (1960s)
After the accentuated curves of the 1950’s, the 1960’s ushered in an era that was entirely different. Now, the hourglass figure was no longer in vogue, and the new desired body type was long and very thing with narrow hips, small waists, and long legs.
The Twig Of The ‘60s
Twiggy
With the popularity of fashion model Lesley “Twiggy” Lawson, this new body type would change the fashion industry forever. This new rail thin body type would continue to be the default in the modeling and fashion world for decades to come. She began modeling at 16 and her thin body type became the go to.
Twiggy
The Disco Diva (1970s)
Although the long, rail thin look of the 1960’s was not totally out, another desired body type came into prominence in the 1970’s. This look was definitely curvier, but not as exaggerated as the 1950’s, so perhaps it is a good balance of the two. The disco divas looked absolutely incredible in their disco ready outfits.
The Disco Diva Of The ‘70s
Charlie’s Angels
Some of the most famous ladies of the 1970’s are the actress who were in Charlie’s Angels: Farah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, and Kate Jackson. They were not just some of the most well known women of the time, they all also embodied the ideal female body type of the decade: long, lean, and curvy simultaneously.
Charlie’s Angels
The Supermodel (1980s)
After the 1970’s, the 80’s ushered in the age of the “supermodel.” This esteemed title was given to models that were taller than average and therefore had very long legs. It was almost impossible to turn on the TV, and MTV in particular, without seeing the supermodel body type that was so in style at the time.
The Supermodel Of The ‘80s
Rachel Hunter
Standing at just under 6 feet, Rachel Hunter is a great example of the supermodel body type. Her height was especially apparent when she stood next to her now ex Rod Stewart, who is 5’10. Hunter famously graced the covers of Sports Illustrated and many other popular magazines at the time. She also starred in several music videos.
Rachel Hunter
Elle Macpherson
Another woman who embodied the 1980’s supermodel aesthetic is none other than Elle Macpherson, who was actually nicknamed “The Body” by Time magazine in 1989. Even now, decades later, she still is modeling and even was featured on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in 2014, looking just as fantastic as ever.
Elle Macpherson
The Waif (1990s)
As the 1990’s started, the ideal body type shifted away from the curves and height and focused more on the waif thin look that was closer to the ideal body type of the 1960’s, but was actually even more exaggerated. In fact, this body type was nicknamed “heroin chic” due to just how thin models were looking at the time — a total shift away from the supermodels of the 1980’s.
The Waif Of The ‘90s
Kate Moss
When it comes to waif thin, nobody else embodies this look more than Kate Moss. After working with Calvin Klein, she became a fashion staple. She is also the person that a lot of people will point to in terms of why the size 0 trend became so popular. In 2012, she was the second highest paid model, bringing in $92 million just that year alone.
Kate Moss
Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder is another example of a celebrity with the waif-thin body type. In addition to her acting skills, perhaps having the right body type at the time helped her become such a well known name. Both Ryder and Kate Moss dated actor Johnny Depp at the time, so it’s safe to say that the waif-thin look was his type.
Winona Ryder
The Buff Beauty (2000s)
As the new millennium came and went, the ideal female body type shifted once again, and the rail thin look was replaced by a much more athletic body type. Female celebrities on magazine covers now sported a six pack and were not as curvy as the women of the 1950’s but definitely way more than the waifs of the 90’s.
The Buff Beauty Of The 2000s
Gisele Bundchen
Gisele Bundchen brought in a new style of supermodel: long legs and tall and athletic. The Brazilian model has been called one of the “Most Beautiful Women in the World” and also “Most Influential People in Fashion,” which probably explains why she was the highest paid model in the world for so many years.
Gisele Bundchen
The Booty Babe (2010s)
By the time the 2010s came around, the look of a curvy woman that was also bootylicious became the norm. Beyonce helped made this look popular, especially after Destiny’s Child song “Bootylicious” came out. Now, not only were curves in, but large booties and wide hips were especially desired.
The Booty Babe Of The 2010s
Rihanna
Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and all around badass Rihanna also helped popularize the ideal body type of the 2010s. She is known for her incredible voice, amazing body, and unique style, which helped her launch her wildly successful fashion line. She is a self-made billionaire thanks to her multiple business ventures.
Rihanna
Kim Kardashian
Another woman who has been credited for shaping the style of the ideal female body type is Kim Kardashian, along with her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, and later also their younger sisters Kendal and Kylie Jenner. It is pretty common for many women to have procedures in order to have more of a Kardashian body type, booty included.
Kim Kardashian
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is known for her incredible performance abilities as well as her acting skills. Jenny from the block is another celebrity who epitomizes the ideal body type of the era, and has even released a song called “Booty.”
Jennifer Lopez
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj is one of the most popular rappers of all time who is known for her amazing musical talent and also for her daring style that will often accentuate her curves.
The REAL 92.3 Birthday Bash
Changing Ideals
These days, it’s less common to have one major body type that is “in style,” and it is way less popular to have woman conform to just one ideal. This might be because the rise of the Internet has played a role in the decline of magazines, but there is not just one ideal body type that is the preferred go to nowadays. Perhaps when we look back decades from now, we will see more of a pattern.
Changing Ideals
Body Positivity
The idea of body positivity and inclusivity has become a lot more popular now, and helps encourage woman (and men) of all body sizes, shapes, colors, and backgrounds feel beautiful without having to feel bad about not fitting into one particular body type that has been deemed desirable by somebody else.
Body Positivity
In Marketing
Many companies have started to embrace this idea, with fashion brands like Aerie hiring diverse models with different body types and sizes to model their clothing. Aerie also doesn’t retouch their final photos, leaving in characteristics and blemish that would have once been called “imperfections” in an campaign called #AerieREAL.
In Marketing
Photoshop vs. Reality
It could be that the reason why so many people are choosing to accept their natural looks is because of the sheer amount of photoshopped images we’ve been exposed to, especially in the early 2000’s. You can see just how much magazines alter the images of celebrities in order to try to sell more magazines. Along with magazine issues, they were selling an unrealistic beauty ideal that many women went to great lengths to try to emulate.
Photoshop Vs. Reality
Instagram vs. Reality
While the days of photoshopped magazines being front and center are likely behind us, Instagram and other platforms have created a whole new generation of people that are not satisfied with their natural looks thanks to the use of filters. Some of these change people’s faces so much that they are no longer recognizable, and is certainly contributing to a lot of body dysmorphia.
Instagram Vs. Reality
Subtle FaceTune
While dramatically altered looks from filters are one thing, another culprit for making people want to change their looks are apps like FaceTune, which subtly change faces in order to “perfect” their “imperfections” in such a subtle way that it could fool plenty of people.
Subtle Facetune
Makeup or No Makeup
Another reaction to all of this is the rise of the no makeup social media post, which has become quite popular. This kind of post is done in order to try to help promote self-acceptance while also showcasing just how much makeup can alter people’s look, even without any cosmetic work being done.
Makeup Vs. No Makeup
Cosmetic Procedures
Speaking of cosmetic procedures, all of these different filters and FaceTune edits have certainly contributed to the rise of plastic surgery and injections. A lot of celebrities will dramatically alter their faces, which then makes a lot of people feel like they should be doing that too. Now a lot of younger people will get injections and fillers because they feel like they must.
Cosmetic Procedures
Ancient Procedures
While many of us might assume that cosmetic procedures and extreme measures to change our looks is a brand new concept, this is simply not true. In ancient China, there was a tradition of foot binding, which saw young girls forcing their feet into tiny shoes that would reshape their feet to a completely different shape and size to more resemble doll-like feet, according to what was considered more attractive at the time.
Ancient Procedures
Double Eyelid Surgery
Many countries, especially in Asia, will try to conform to Western beauty ideals, and this will mean a lot of cosmetic procedures. In South Korea, one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures is the double eyelid surgery will changes the natural eye shape to look more like Western, non-Asian eyes.
Double Eyelid Surgery
French Beauty Ideals
In France, a popular saying about the beauty ideals is the “three white things,” which includes white skin, white teeth, and white hands. There are also the “three black things” that refers to eyebrows and eyelashes. However, these days French beauty ideals focus more on an individuals style rather than the body.
French Beauty Ideals
Skin Whitening
In a lot of non-Western countries, what is considered beautiful will refer to what is considered beautiful in the West. This means that a lot of people will go through skin whitening treatments that include using serums, creams, and procedures that are meant to lighten the skin.
Skin Whitening
Future Beauty Ideals
It is often difficult to predict what will become the next beauty trend and what future body ideals will be. A lot of times, many factors outside of the fashion and beauty industry will impact the ideal look of the day. That’s why without knowing what events the future will bring, we can’t know what will become popular. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not fun to try to guess. What do you hope will come back into style, and which trends do you hope will fade into oblivion?
Future Beauty Ideals