Different epochs dictated different standards of female beauty. How they did they eventually vary?
Antique times brought the first cult of beauty. A concept of ideal beauty was in harmoniously combined body, smooth lines of the breast, the expressed waist and wide hips. Sculptors of that time modeled only such figures. For example, the proportions of the well-known Venus are 86-69-93 at 164 cm. growth.
In X-XII a century Europe the new ideal of beauty was generated. Troubadours glorified fragile, pale ladies, defenseless and helpless on a kind. Everything, beginning from high growth and finishing a high forehead, came into fashion. Ladies shaved off a part of the hair framed the face in order to open their forehead. To make the neck seem longer and thin, the nape was shaved. Thin hands, long fingers and long legs were appreciated.
The only paradoxical thing was the fact that the standard of beauty meant noticeable, big stomach. Those ladies, whom the nature has awarded with a flat stomach, have also found a way out. They put the special platen simulating the increased stomach under the dress.
In the Medieval Europe reined the rigid orders established by Catholic Church. The physical beauty was considered sinful. Therefore women put on the dresses, almost completely hiding a figure.
But even during those uneasy times there was a standard of beauty. It was a harmonious woman, neither thin, nor plum. Diminutiveness was highly appreciated. Everything should be small - growth, hands, foot, breast.
After strict times the era of the Revival time has come. Magnificent bodies have started to be appreciated. Plum hands, wide hips and magnificent breast were considered as special advantages. Smooth bends of a body were emphasized as much as possible - by means of special breed of a dress, deep décolleté and short sleeves.
In the end of XVI century in Italy style of a baroque which in XVII century has grasped practically all Europe has appeared. The fashion included luxury, pretentiousness and airs and graces. Time of so-called doll beauty has come.
Women should remind fragile figurines. The standard of appeal meant the unreal thin waist, small head on a long “swan” neck, sloping shoulders and a small breast.
Some ladies starved themselves because of constant under eating.
Finally the XX century has come - it is time of emancipation. Women began to go in for sports and give a maximum of attention to the physical activity. There was an absolutely other standard of female beauty - the sunburn, well developed muscular system, self-confidence and self-sufficiency.