Perceptions of Body Image throughout History - PE

By victoria.hunt1

  • Elizabethan Era

    An hourglass/bell-like shape; huge lower half, small waist, flat chest. They wore an armoured-like corset made out of iron to flattern the chest for a breatless look. With this they also wore a petticoat structure like a hooped cage which added volume
  • Period: to

    Perceptions of Body Image throughout History

  • Corsets - 17th Century

    In this era, corsets came the ones we recognise today; usually made with whalebone rather than iron. Petticoat hoops and rolls fell out of favour giving the lower half of the body a more natural shape.

  • Tight corsest - 18th century

    Skirts were hooped again, but hoops were flat at the front and back for a wide shape from side. A panier, a frame-work undergarment tied to the waist to support skirts at the sides. Women's corsets were tightly laced to draw the shoulders back and give a high, round bosom and upright posture.

  • Corsets more tighter and skirts more bigger - 19th century

    Flowing and forgiving Greek-style silhouette was in fashion. Did not last long and corsets became more tighter with the skirt more bigger. Petticoats (hooped cage) were worn.

  • 1900s 'S' shape - 20th century

    Small waist was still in fashion. A health corset was worn tightly. Also, pushed the bust forward and the hips back, creating an 'S' shape.

  • 1910 Women's athletic image

    Women started to get active and athletic. Physical fitness introduced a slender shape in fashion. Corset were out of fashion and brassiere were worn.

  • 1920s Masculine Look

    Thin, boyish figure with little or no curves. Wore underwear that flattened chest for a masculine look. Some women binded their breast for a flatter chest.

  • 1930 Return of the Corset

    Slightly curvier figure with a bigger bust and wanted slim hips. Women brought in the corset back in 1930s. Then a 'girdle' - a bra and attached garters.

  • 1940s Slim waists and bigger breast

    After the war, curves were back in fashion. Slim waists, long, full skirts were back into style. Underwear started to be worn for emphasising the breast, instead of the waist. Bra was worn for lifting and enhancing breasts. "Falsies" - extra padding in bra was added for a bigger breast look.

  • 1960 Mini skirts & Barbie Dolls

    Mini skirt was in fashion. Petticoats and curves were no longer in style. A famous celebrity during this period was Twiggy. The Barbie doll was created with huge breasts, never-ending legs, non-existent hips, and teeny-tiny waist.

  • 1970 Natural look & Hippie style

    Natural look was in fashion and the "Hippie" look was in style. But, women still wanted small waist, hips and large breast. Then after a while, toned skin was popular.

  • 1980 Diet & Exercise

    Women started to work out for a fit body shape. Diet and exercising were fairly common. They wanted a mascular body, but with nice curves.

  • 1990 Weight Loss

    Weight losing became popular. Women wanted to be tall, skinny with big breast. Women still used lingerie to help get the body shape they wantt, including corsets, body-shapers, control tights, push-up bras and magic knickers.

  • 2000 to present; Thinness - the ultimate body shape goal

    Thinness is the ultimate body shape goal. Women nowadays do plastic surgery, gastric reductions and radical diets to get skinny.