The first ideal woman is much different than the ideal woman today, and by ideal woman I mean a beautiful woman in which men greatly desire. In the eighteenth century, women were nothing like they are today. Women were deemed attractive based on wealth and riches. A fancy gown with an elaborate hairstyle would represent beauty during this time period. Weight would also symbolize wealth because it related to good health and proper eating ways. The ideal woman from the eighteenth century would not be skinny, they would wear very expensive dresses, and have extravagant hair styles. Not much skin would be revealed on a beautiful woman during this time. Their big dresses would go to their feet and their arms would be covered by the sleeves of the dress. Also, ribbons and jewels and feathers would cover the attire of the ideal, beautiful woman from the eighteenth century. This was the acceptable appearance for the times because this is what men liked. Men were attracted to wealth, for this is what men wanted, riches. This standard for beauty only lasted a so long until men desired a different kind of beauty.
As the 1800’s come around, natural beauty became the new, acceptable beauty. Jewelry, makeup, and other added accessories diminished within women beauty. This became the case because theatre and stage work arrived. Actresses needed all the accessories, leaving the everyday woman with natural beauty. Natural features had to exhibit good hygiene and good health in order to attract men. Men were no longer interested in wealth and riches in their women. They would now seek out natural beauty and this was the standard women had to meet in order to be beautiful.
During the next century, woman started to gain more freedom. They did what they wanted to show off their freedom. Shorter, wavy hair became popular for women. Also, many women looked up to the famous actresses and wanted to look like those who were famous. These actresses wore makeup, powders, creams, and lipstick on their faces. So, the everyday woman would apply makeup, powders, creams and lipstick on their face too. The actresses definitely appeared beautiful, and same went with the everyday woman. Men were attracted to this new beauty with girls dressing up their faces. Women are becoming freer as time is going on and they’re eventually doing whatever they can to appear sexy and beautiful.
This beauty is not up to the woman. Men decide if what they are seeing is beautiful and this causes a competition between all styles. Those in higher power create an appearance of the beautiful woman through their models. When a modeling company exhibits the newest style that appeals to the most people, which is the new beauty. The most popular companies set the standard of beauty through their employees, or models. The model Kate Moss started the trend of extreme thinness because this is what her boss wanted her to look like. This is something that still affects beauty today.
Hollister is currently a very popular clothing company among young adults. To display their clothes, Hollister puts them on models that are considered beautiful and sexy. Each model you see is definitely thin. In fact, they show off their thinness by wearing the clothes that show a lot of the body. The clothing is also thin and it is fitted to the models body. In addition, the viewers can perfectly see the female’s body figure. Each and every female model has an attractive body. Hollister has set the standard of beauty through their female models. As a result, other females will buy Hollister clothing and essentially try to mimic the female Hollister models. The typical female model for Hollister would wear a thin top, skinny jeans, and sandals. They would also have long, straight hair and tan skin. So, the typical women striving for beauty would wear skinny jeans, thin shirts, and sandals. This long haired, tan girl is now considered beautiful and attractive within society.
Women are simply following along with the trends in society. They can only wear what the top companies put out for them to wear. When American Eagle comes out with the latest outfits, that’s what the beautiful girl will wear. When Express creates a new look in their models, other females will follow the models and create this new beauty. It is all up to society what is beautiful and what is not beautiful.
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