The 90s fashion scene brought about an array of styles from grungy looks to slip dresses, but it also sparked the “heroin chic” trend. This, unlike mini skirts or platform heels, was a trend in body type. It put emphasis on emaciated features, dark under-eye circles, and pale skin.
"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.
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.
The Supermodel Era (1980s)
The 'ideal' body type during this time was athletic, tall shape with toned arms (8).
The 1980s saw supermodels and fitness fanatics take over, with the ideal body type regarded as tall and slim with an athletic figure.
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)
In the 1970s, the thin-framed, long-legged look was still idolized. In this decade, we began to see an increase in eating disorders, and as a society, we gained more knowledge about them. In the 1980s, with the popularity of the Jane Fonda at-home workout videos, the athletic supermodel look became the goal.
Despite this, there are many different body shapes, with an hourglass shape being one of the least common, but the most desired.
In the 2010s, a new fitness craze spread with the assistance of widespread accessible social media, which resulted in the hourglass body type coming to the forefront. While skinniness remained, an interest in working out blossomed, serving as a healthy alternative to drugs and eating disorders.
Overall, men believed a more mesomorph (a more muscular) body shape to be more attractive to others; while women believed a more ectomorph (thin) body shape to be more attractive to others.
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 Body Ideal of The 20s
The ideal body shape of the 1920s was characterized by a flat chest, a slim waist, and a lack of pronounced curves. The desired figure was often referred to as the “boyish” or “flapper” physique.
For about 400 years, roughly between 1500 and 1900, bodily weight and volume, for both men and women, had a strong visual appeal. There were variations according to country and century in this standard of good looks, but in general it was considered not only beautiful but natural to look physically substantial.
Hourglass is the rarest body type, with only estimated 8% of women having this figure. Here's the thing: hourglass bodies are versatile. The stereotypical hourglass is too narrow of a depiction that often fails to capture the true beauty and diversity of this shape.
Mesomorphs build muscles easier than other body types. Bodybuilding comes naturally, and with the right fitness regimen a mesomorph can develop an impressive physique. Easier to lose weight. Mesomorphs may be prone to weight gain, but they also tend to lose weight easier than people with other body types.
A different type of Art - Kelly Brook, 43, Has The Most Perfect Body, According To Scientists.
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.
Modern Chinese people have long considered the ideal woman's body to be relatively tall, slim, and curvaceous.
Apple shape
People with a so-called “apple” body shape carry more weight around their midsections. Having a full waistline, or “abdominal obesity,” can be a red flag that you may be at risk for conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
The rectangular body shape is characterized by a straight silhouette with not many curves, shoulders and hips of similar width, little to no waist definition and very long legs. The shoulders, chest and hip are fairly uniform.
Research indicates that men have a marked preference for women who have the hourglass figure. These studies found that this shape was even more highly preferred than breast size or facial features.
And now thanks to the archives of LIFE Magazine, we know what was in vogue in the 1930s. According to a feature story from 1938, the "ideal" woman had a 12 inch neck, 19.5 inch thighs, and 6 inch wrists. Featuring 20-year-old model June Cox (who was 5 ft.
1900-1920. Women in this period were encouraged to have a natural, modest appearance. Makeup was used sparingly, often in secret or discreet forms, such as colored balms and powders. Pale skin was considered ideal, which was a sign of wealth and status because it indicated that one did not have to work outside.
By the 1940s, slender legs became the focus of beauty ideals – emphasised with hemmed stockings and high-heeled shoes. Bust size also grew in idealised images and would soon become the dominant feature of female ideal beauty.