Then, by the '90s, that emphasis shifted back to more skinny, waif-like body types. “The term that gets so much associated with that decade is the '90s is the moment of the waif,” McClendon said. “Kate Moss is the epitome of that. Her nickname was 'the waif.
Heroin Chic (1990s)
The 1990s went one step further than the supermodel era in fetishizing thinness, which was eerily dubbed as 'heroin chic'. The rise of a waif-like body type by models such as Kate Moss influenced beauty standards that celebrated extreme thinness, an androgynous frame and pale skin (8).
1900-1910 - The S shape
The quintessential Gibson Girl embodied the ideal of a tall, slender woman who stood out for her 'S' shape, achieved by wearing the Edwardian corset. The corset pushed the torso forward and pushed the hips out the back, giving a voluptuous look with large breasts and hips.
Eighties' beauty ideals
They were tall, slender, and strong. A more muscular look for women was continuing to emerge due to advances in fitness and, in part, the feminist spirit. Muscle tone signified strength, capability, and independence.
Early 1990s style basics
Common looks for women were crop tops, babydoll dresses over leggings, black leather jackets with shoulder pads, and colored or embroidered jeans, with slouch socks, Keds, or ballet flats.
The '90s was a golden era of pop culture and music. Characterized by casual outfits, bright colors, crop tops, baggy pants, graphic tees, slip dresses, and denim overalls, many '90s fashion trends are still stylish today. Athleisure and streetwear (popularized globally in the '90s) are as popular as ever.
Humor in television and film was marked by ironic self-references mixed with popular culture references. Alternative music movements like grunge, reggaeton, Eurodance, and hip-hop, became popular, aided by the rise in satellite and cable television, and the internet.
Kelly Brook was identified as having a scientifically "perfect" body according to studies from the University of Texas. Her body measurements closely match what researchers considered ideal: a BMI of 18.5, with measurements of 93-61-87 cm (bust-waist-hips)
Beauty consisted around the fitness and nutrition craze in the 80s, encouraging athletically toned bodies, bodysuits, and tracksuit bottoms. Supermodel and bodybuilding became a sensation, along with leg warmers and big hair.
Essentially, the male ideal is an inverted pyramid with broad shoulders and small waist, while the female ideal is an hourglass with a small waist-to-hip ratio.
From 1959 to 1978 there was a remarkable shift towards a thinner ideal in the fashion industry: models represented in big magazines as Vogue, Ladies Home Journal and Woman's Day decreased significantly in weight.
"The ultimate early-2000s female body was all about appearing long and lean. Body conditioning workouts grew in popularity as they promised to 'lengthen' muscles without weight training. There was a lot of attention on flat, hard stomachs, and the elusive 'thigh gap' became idolised.
Despite this, there are many different body shapes, with an hourglass shape being one of the least common, but the most desired.
The "most beautiful person" of 1990: Michelle Pfeiffer.
In the 2000s, being extremely thin was the standard being set and the fashion was designed to cater to those with thin bodies. Jeans that used to ride well below the hip bones paired with crop tops that stopped mid-ribcage were common staples on thin celebrities.
The 1990s were also marked by a number of influential cultural events. The sitcom Friends debuted, while a landmark “show about nothing” ended. A little movie called Titanic packed theaters, becoming the first film to earn $1 billion at the box office. And when it came to music, grunge and hip-hop made a lot of noise.
Alongside the idealisation of the waif body type in the 90s, this resulted in an unhealthy and unattainable beauty standard for women and young girls.
Clear faces, bright eyes and tinted lips were desirable, but everything had to look natural. It was believed that cheeks painted with blush had to look flushed, and lips had to look bitten rather than painted.
Hourglass Shape
Hourglass figures are often considered the "ideal" female body shape, with a balanced upper body and lower body and a narrow waist. If your bust and hips are nearly equal in size and you have a noticeable waist, you likely have an hourglass shape.
The ideal waist size for Women is considered to be between 32.5-35 inches. 2. BMI (Body Mass Index) – This is calculated by diving your body mass by your height. A healthy BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9.
Supermodel Bella Hadid has been declared the most beautiful woman in the world after she passed a science test that determines what constitutes the 'perfect face'.
Common raver fashion styles of the 1990s included tight-fitting nylon shirts, tight nylon quilted vests, bell-bottoms, neoprene jackets, studded belts, platform shoes, jackets, scarves and bags made of flokati fur, fluffy boots and phat pants, often in bright and neon colors.
The 1990s is often remembered as a decade of relative peace and prosperity: The Soviet Union fell, ending the decades-long Cold War, and the rise of the Internet ushered in a radical new era of communication, business and entertainment.