BEAUTY THROUGH THE AGES 

It’s hard to believe that once upon a time, women were celebrated for their natural god-given bodies. In fact, the female standard of beauty has gone through many drastic changes over the last several hundred years. We’ve compiled a timeline of all the major trends over the past 600 years, starting with the Renaissance up until the last decade. As we track everything from body types to hair and make-up, you may be surprised to see how the definition of sexy has changed so drastically over the years.

Renaissance: From the 1400s to the early 16th century

Body Type: The ideal Renaissance woman was more voluptuous than any other time in history. Paintings from this era depict women who would be considered beyond curvy by today’s standards – but at that time, these full-figured ladies were the epitome of sexiness. For the first time in recorded history, women were prized for their natural bodies.

Beauty: The term “blondes have more fun” may have stemmed from the Renaissance, because they believed that the lighter the hair color, the better. As for make-up, pale ivory skin was considered sexy, and vermillion was used to tint the lips to a deep red color. Pale complexion and blood red lips – it seems like the Renaissance era may have originated the popular vampire-chic look.

Victorian Era: From 1837 to 1901 (named after Britain’s Queen Victoria)

Body Type: Unlike Renaissance women, Victorian women were very body conscious. Sexy meant having the smallest waistline humanly possible, and in order to achieve this look, women wore corsets. Some corsets were wound so tight that women could hardly breathe, to the point where sitting down was completely out of the question. Many women would even break ribs trying to get their waistlines down to an inconceivable 12 inches. Layered petticoats, hoops, and bustles became very popular, all of which magnified the largest parts of the body – can you say, “Baby got back?”

Beauty: Modesty was the operative word when it came to Victorian makeup. High-class women were expected to use makeup sparingly. Bold colors were considered trashy, and reserved for prostitutes. Some religions at the time even proclaimed beauty products to be “the look of the devil.”

The Roaring 20s: The era that brought us Coco Chanel, shorter hemlines, and flappers.

Body Type: The 1920’s was a time when women didn’t want to look like women at all. We can’t imagine that men today would find this sexy, but some women from the 20’s era would even bind their chests with strips of cloth to achieve a “little boy” look – quite contradictory to some of the measures that today’s women take in order to amplify their chests. The loose silhouette of the flapper dress was in stark contrast to the corseted waist of the Victorian era. Elastic webbed girdles replaced corsets and gave off the look of a flat boyish abdomen.

Beauty: Going right along with the boyish look, the hair bob or finger wave was a big trend. Bold make-up, which had once been considered “trashy,” was now considered sexy. Powder was applied to make the skin look as pale as possible, and eyebrows were lifted and penciled in to appear thin and bold. Kohl was used to line the eye and achieve an overall dramatic look.

The 1930’s to 1950’s: Hollywood’s Golden Age

Body Type: As they became more body conscious, women started to pay attention to what they ate. Fashions accented the arms and legs, so women lifted light weights to build muscle tone. Above you see Marilyn Monroe working out. The new padded stretch cotton bra was introduced – something we’re sure all men and women are very thankful for. Designers like Chanel (credited as the originator of the "little black dress"), Dior, and Elsa Schiaparelli started designing glamorous attire that allowed women to show off their feminine curves.

Beauty: Hairstyles became more feminine than they had been in the 1920’s. Hair color varied, depending on which movie star one was trying to emulate. Jean Harlow made platinum blonde a trend, and meanwhile, Rita Hayworth (above) made being a redhead popular. Last, but not least, Marlene Dietrich was a symbol for all the brunettes out there. Make-up became a little less drag, and more girl-next-door than in the 20’s. The pasty white skin trend was finally passé, and women started opting for foundations closer to their natural complexions.

The 1950’s: A Step Back to Conservative

 

Body Type: The desired shape in the mid-century was the hourglass figure popularized by movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly (above). Women were told that their primary goal was to “catch a man” and have a family – so they were taught to dress to allure. Rule number one of the 50’s was that women were never supposed to leave the house looking sloppy, meaning that our convenience store runs in sweatpants and sneakers would have been deemed completely unacceptable.

Beauty: Hair was usually kept short at just below the shoulders, and was worn in soft, curly, or wavy styles. Straight styles were considered undesirable, so rollers became a girl’s best friend. Women began to focus more on having flawless skin than anything else. The goal was a peaches and cream complexion.

The 1960’s: The era that brought us hippies, Twiggy, and bell-bottoms

 

Body Type: Mimicking the popular skinny models of the day, like Twiggy (above), women became obsessed with being rail thin. In terms of fashion and beauty, two polar opposites emerged: the hippie flower child and the modern swinging 60’s woman. The hippies put more of an emphasis on peace and love than on style and beauty. On the other hand, the “Twiggy-girl” put some time into her appearance and body. Lucky for all the guys out there, mini skirts became popular again.

Hair: Hippies went for low to no maintenance hairstyles. As far as they were concerned, the natural way was the best way. Needless to say, these flower children usually avoided make-up all together. More modern girls also went for low maintenance ‘dos, but they opted for short pixie cuts as opposed to long hair. The big emphasis was on the eyes – the bigger and wider the eye appeared, the better. Fake eyelashes were a must-have, and mascara was applied to achieve the popular tarantula lashes.

The 1970’s: All about the Farrah Fawcett hair

Body Type: The 60’s forever changed the way women viewed their bodies. By the 1970’s, the thinking-thin phenomenon was in full force – we all know the tragic story of Karen Carpenter. It was official – thin equaled sexy. Clothing was loose and flowing, but the mini skirt of the 60’s gave rise to the micro mini of the 70’s.

Beauty: The late Farrah Fawcett (above) revolutionized the way women styled their hair. Her long, layered, feathery haircut became the look that every woman wanted to have. This decade also marked the beginning of the bronzed beach look and with it, the popular tanning booth trend. Women began relying on bronzers and self-tanners, things many women (and some men) still can’t do without.

The 1980’s: The decade of big hair and The Material Girl

Body Type: The aerobics exercise craze of the 80’s further emphasized fitness for women. Women were expected to maintain a certain weight, but still appear toned – all without being too muscular. This decade also epitomized over-the-top fashion. Bright neon suits with football player-sized shoulder pads and spandex were just a few of the quintessential trends of the decade.

Beauty: There are only two words to describe 80’s hair – “big” and “hairspray.” The mantra of the decade was “the bigger the better”- and with all of those aerosol cans, we’re sure the ozone took a big hit right around this decade. We can’t imagine how men found this sexy, but over-the-top make-up was the look of the day.  Just check out Madonna, above. Women opted for brighter colors, like the infamous blue eye shadows and liners. Also, thanks to Brooke Shields, bushy eyebrows were considered very sexy.

The 1990’s: The era that brought us Beverly Hills, 90210, and Friends

 

Body Type: Models like Kate Moss dominated. The “heroin chic” trend also came about in the ‘90s – a strung-out and emaciated appearance was the coveted look. Thanks to a few rebellious kids in Seattle, the 90’s also gave rise to the popular grunge look, evidenced by flannel shirts and an overall unkempt look. On the other side of the spectrum, the spandex and fluorescent color trends of the 80’s stuck around for a good part of the 90’s. Lycra was introduced, becoming perhaps the biggest trend of the decade. Midriff-bearing tops also became fashionable – which coincided with the rise of pierced belly buttons.

Beauty: One of the most popular 90’s hairstyles was the “Rachel cut,” named for Jennifer Aniston’s character on Friends. Other popular hair trends included the bob, bangs (a la Brenda Walsh), and bleach blond color (remember Donna Martin?). Kate Moss epitomized the androgynous ideal, which led many women to take a minimalist approach to makeup.

The New Millennium (2000 to present): An era of choice and expression

Body Type: We’re currently in an age where women have more choice than ever before, and curves are being celebrated in the fashion industry.  And yet, the price of beauty can still be extremely high. This is evident in the huge surge in plastic surgeries that have taken place in the last decade – Heidi Montag, anyone? We’re seeing a re-emergence of almost every major fashion trend of decades past – from shoulder pads and menswear-inspired attire, to florals and wild prints. We aren’t all copycats though, the emergence of low-rise, super skinny jeans is unique to our generation.

Beauty: When considering hair and make-up, there is not one big trend. For possibly the first time, the definition of beauty doesn’t seem to be so concrete. Hair extensions are a big trend today, allowing women the freedom to have virtually any hairstyle they desire. Make-up can range anywhere from the new coral makeup trend to subtler nudes. Many women opt for a more natural look or go for a bolder smoky eye – the choice is theirs.

Article courtesy of www.stylecaster.com

How to Respond to Someone Body Shaming Another Person

Yourself. For example, self-body shaming might sound like, “I look so fat in this dress!” or “My arms look so weird!”

People in your presence. For example, you might be engaging in body shaming someone in your presence by saying something like, “You are not going to win any beauty contests at your size.” Or, “Your hips are wider than the desk!”

People who are not in your presence. You might be engaging in body shaming of someone who is not around by saying something like, “Did you see her legs in those pants? They looked huge!” Or, “Hey, it could be worse. You could look like her!”

Nip gossip in the bud



If you hear people gossiping about someone's who's not there, nip the talk in the bud. They're not there to defend themselves, and you are. Plus, the more body shaming talk you let slip by, the more likely people are to do it when you're not around.

You could say something like, "Hey, that's not cool. You shouldn't talk about John like that."
Remind people that body shaming is a form of bullying and that is can cause people to become depressed and suicidal.

Speak up. When you're in a group where one person is body shaming another person, speak up. The person who's being shamed may not want to or be able to do it, but they'll likely appreciate you saying something.

If the criticism is veiled or general, you could just make small comment to acknowledge the rudeness of the remark. For instance, if someone says at dinner, "Maybe we should skip dessert. We're all putting on a few extra pounds," you could say, "Well, I need some chocolate. Anyone want to split something with me?"
If it's more direct, address it directly. If someone says to another person, "That dress is a bit tight on you," you could say, "That's a bit rude. I think it looks fabulous!"

Leave the conversation. You may not be brave enough yet to tell someone to stop body shaming. If you're not, another option is just to walk away from the conversation. If you step away every time someone starts body shaming someone else, they'll likely get the picture at some point. Even if they don't, at least you're not participating.
 
Dealing With Strangers Who Are Body Shaming


Speak up. Say something to the person doing the shaming. The person on the receiving end may not be able to or want to speak up. However, most people are grateful when someone else steps in. So try to say what you would want to say if you were in their shows. For instance, if you see someone saying "You're awfully fat!" to someone else, you could say, "Why don't you keep your comments to yourself!"

Tell people the facts about body shaming as well. For example, you might say something like, “These kind of comments and the unrealistic ideals that we place on women in our society is part of the reason why 5% of women have anorexia or bulimia.”

Or, you might say, “Body shaming does not help people; it hurts them. Being overweight or obese is not something that people choose to do and making negative comments about someone’s weight only makes matters worse.” 

Make friends. You can also walk up to the person being body shamed and engage them in conversation. Try sitting next to them, and just saying "hi." Then start talking to them about anything, from the weather to what your favorite book is. Basically, you're creating a safe space with the person, ignoring the person who's making inappropriate comments.
 
Offer to stay with them. If the body shamer is being aggressive, the victim may not feel safe alone, even after the other person leaves. Offer to stay with them until they can get somewhere safer, particularly if you're on public transportation. Of course, respect their wishes if they say no.

Call the police. If the body shamer is getting aggressive or getting in the other person's space, it may be appropriate to call the police. Even if you don't want to get involved, calling the police ensures someone will be there to help deal with the situation if it escalates.
 
Defending People on the Internet



Offer support. When you see someone being body shamed or even demeaned for defending themselves against body shaming, try to offer some positive support. Reply with something positive about their person or what they've said in the thread. Positive support can mean a lot on the internet. For instance, you could say, "I think your hair is amazing!" or "I agree, Jess, body shaming can make people feel worse about themselves, which is not healthy."
 
Ignore the trolls. "Trolls" in internet vernacular are just people who are wanting to stir up trouble for the sake of attention. They'll often say mean things just to get a reaction. Try not to engage with this type of person, as you won't get anywhere, plus you're just giving them what they want, a response.
 
Let the person know you don't think it's appropriate. If someone you know is body shaming someone else on the internet, let them know you don't think it's okay. Speak up by leaving a comment. You don't have to be mean, just polite and firm. For instance, you could write, "I know you probably didn't mean to, but calling Jean out on her weight isn't cool. It's body shaming."

Article courtesy of wikihow.com