Clothing, makeup and music trends change every year. This process can be influenced by both cultural changes and social developments. The beauty symbols of each era can therefore be completely different when summed up. The images below may surprise you about beauty standards.
Late 19th century: Zahra Khanom Tadj es-Saltaneh
Zahra Khanom Tadj es-Saltaneh, an Iranian princess of the Qajar dynasty, was once considered a beauty icon. Her bold facial features and poised posture made her a sought-after “muse” for photographs and paintings in the late 19th century. Her beauty was celebrated not only in Iran but also in Europe, where she was known as the “Venus of Persia”.
1900s: Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore, an actress born in 1879, was a famous beauty of her time and the first woman to be known as a “glamour girl”.
1910s: Camille Clifford
At the beginning of the last century, the hourglass figure was the ideal model of female beauty. And actress Camille Clifford with her tiny 46 cm waist has become the standard of women’s beauty. Her images and photographs were widely used in fashion magazines, and women tried to imitate Clifford by wearing uncomfortable corsets to achieve such unrealistic waistlines.
1920s: Josephine Baker
In the 1920s, the fashion for curves gradually began to fade. Women moved towards a more free style: they began to cut their hair short, wear bright makeup and choose unusual outfits. The role model of the moment is dancer, actress and singer Josephine Baker. Writer Ernest Hemingway called her “the most thrilling woman anyone has ever met.” Picasso also painted pictures of her.
1930s: Greta Garbo
After the wild freedom of the 20s, the following decade was marked by a softer feminine style. The ideal beauty of that time was Greta Garbo, a beauty with high arched eyebrows, flawless white skin and her languid eyes that still fascinate many people to this day.
1940s: Rita Hayworth
During this decade, the image of a woman wearing a suit, with a skirt or pants, became popular. The length of the skirt also became shorter, usually below the knee. In the late 1940s, Dior launched its New Look collection with puffy skirts and tight jackets, and models’ eyebrows became wider and looked a bit more natural. Rita Hayworth, a beauty icon at that time, dubbed the “Goddess of Love” by the press, had eyebrows following this trend.
1950s: Audrey Hepburn
In the 1950s, the curvy hourglass figure became trendy again. The first breast augmentation surgeries began to become popular. According to a survey conducted on 2,000 Americans, Audrey Hepburn was chosen as the ultimate beauty icon, coming in first place, followed by Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.
1960s: Sophia Loren
In the 1960s, super slim bodies became fashionable. It was also in this decade that the sexy and inimitable Sophia Loren became a symbol of female beauty.
1970s: Diana Ross
The 1970s were the era of disco with flared pants, flowing hair, thin eyebrows, glossy lips and long eyelashes – everything was imbued with a spirit of independence and confidence. Singer and actress Diana Ross is one of the brightest representatives of this decade, along with Cher, Debbie Harry and Jane Birkin.
1980s: Madonna
In the 1980s, sports became a new trend. The cult of a fit, curvy body became popular. And the charming diva Madonna with her liberal beauty is the representative of the standard at this time.
1990s: Winona Ryder
The 1990s became a period of transition from athletic bodies to leaner looks. Neutral styles, grunge and pale skin tones quickly became popular. Winona Ryder’s look has come to embody this aesthetic.
2000s: Angelina Jolie
At the beginning of the new century, the thin figure was gradually forgotten. The sporty look is back in fashion. People started showing off their toned abs wearing low-rise jeans: including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez. But the position of beauty icon belongs to Angelina Jolie.
2010s — present: Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and Megan Fox
In the 2010s, we may be witnessing a new renaissance of the 1910s: hourglass bodies and curves become popular again. Photo filters and plastic surgery have become common things. Kim Kardashian is the face of the new era: tight dresses and jumpsuits, selfies with thick lips and bold makeup.
The current decade also favors natural looks and freedom of choice. There are no clear requirements on what the body must look like to look attractive, or how to wear makeup to be fashionable and beautiful. This is a unique time when all sizes and shapes are trendy. Rihanna is the perfect embodiment of this trend. She not only wears cool street style but is always comfortable showing off bold fashion on the red carpet. Or Anne Hathaway, with her classic features and completely different elegant style, is also considered a beauty icon.
Source: Bright Side
