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The ideal Renaissance woman was more voluptous then any other time in history. The women of this century had full figured bodies, and were prized for their natural body type. Bigger= sexier
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Women were almost shaped like a bell. They had a huge lower half, small waist and flatt chest. The women of this time wore an armour-like corset to flatten chest for a breastless look.
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Corsets made an appearance in the 1600s and were made of whalebone rather than iron. The lower half of the body was still its natural shape.
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Women's corsets were tightly laced to draw the shoulders back and give a high, round bosom and upright posture.
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Corsets became even tighter with the skirt even bigger. Petticoats (hooped cage) were worn to give a bigger butt effect.
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Victorian women were very body conscious. Sexy meant having the smallest waistline possible and in order to achieve this unnatural look, women of this era wore corsets. Some corsets were wound so tightly that women could hardley breathe. The women also wore skirt hoops to enchance the lower half of their bodies
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The corsets were out of fashion. A bustle at the back of the skirt were worn to make the women's buttocks bigger. Corsets were still worn to hold in the waist. Bodice emphasised the bust. Women had to look fleshy and full-figured. A thin body symbolised as unhealthy.
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Small waist was still in fashion. A corset was worn tightly, which pushed the bust forward and the hips back, creating an 'S' shape.
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Women at this time started to get active and athletic. Physical fitness introduced a slender body shape. Bras were now worn by women as well.
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A thin, boyish fiugure with little or no curves was the style at this time. Women wanted a masculine look and some women binded their breasts for a flatter chest.
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The 1920's was a decade when women did not want to look like women at all. Women of this era would bind their chests to create a "little boy look" which is quite contradictory to some of the measures that are taken in todays society. Women in the 20's wore a loose flapper dresses and girdles which gave off the look of a flat boyish abdomen.
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A slightly curvier figures with a bigger bust and slim hips was what was wanted. Women brought back the corset for a short time but then discovered the "girdle" which was a bra with attached garters.
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As women became more body conscious, they also started to pay attnetion to what they ate. Fashions accented their arms and legs, so women began to lift weights to build muscle tone. The new padded cotton bra was introduced, and glamorous attire started to be designed that allowed women to show off their feminine curves.
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After the war, curves were back in fashion. Emphasis on the breats was achieved by wearing a bra for lifting and enhancement.
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The desired shape in this mid-century era was the hourglass figure popularized by movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. Women's primary goal was to catch a man and start a family so it was unacceptable to leave the house without looking pristine.
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Mini skirts were in fashion at this time. The Barbie doll was created with huge breasts, never ending legs, non existant hips and a teeny-tiny waist. This created the un-achieveable body type.
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This era brought us hippies, and bell-bottoms. Copying the popular skinny models of the day, women became obsessed with being rail thin.
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A more natural look was in at this time. Women still wanted a small frame but cared less about fashion and appearance.
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By the 1970's the "thinking-thin" phenomenon was in full force. It was official being thing equaled being sexy. The beach bronzed look also became popular duing this time.
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Women started to work out for a fit body shape. They wanted muscles but curves at the same time. Diet and exercise became common.
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The aerobics excerise craze of the 80's emphasized fitness for women. Women were expected to maintain a certain weight, but still apear toned without being too muscular. WIth so many body stipulations, eating disorders skyrocketed in this time period.
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Loosing weight became the fad. Women wanted to be tall, skinny and have big breasts. Women used lingerie to help get the body shape they wanted.
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Models of this time further perpetuated standards of extreme thinness. The "heroin chic" trend also came about in the 90's and a strung out emanicipated appearance was the coveted look.
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At this day and age, thinness is the ultimate body shape goal. Women now a days get plastic surgery, and do radical diets to get skinny
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Although we are currently in an age where women have more choice than ever before, women are still expected to live up to an impossibly skin body shape. The price of beauty is incredibly high, literally. Women are going to extreme lengths to get the body and face they want. The huge surge in plastic surgery over the past decade is evidence of that.
