The Definition Of ‘Sexy’ Throughout History

 

Beauty and fashion trends are forever changing and with that comes an ever-evolving definition of beauty.  It is true what they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but as a culture we have changed and shaped what we think is sexy throughout different generations.  So take a journey back through time with us and relive the different definitions of sexy throughout history!

What was your favorite era of sexy? Let us know in the comments!

From the 1400s to the early 16th century, the ideal woman was very voluptuous. Painters of the period depicted women that would be considered 'overweight' by today's standards. At this time, a full figured woman was considered the epitome of sexy.

During the Victorian Era, women were very body conscious. Unlike the women of the Renaissance, they thought the smaller the waist the sexier they would appear and corsets that cinched the waist to the point of not being able to breathe was common. Makeup was worn sparingly and the natural look was very much in, whereas bold makeup was considered trashy and reserved for prostitutes.

Throughout the Roaring Twenties, the feminist movement really started to take off. Women were trying to conceal their curves with loose fitting dresses, and trousers became very fashionable - a huge step away from the corset. Unlike the Victorian Era, bold makeup was considered sexy and the paler you were the sexier you were.

In the 1930’s and 40’s, the Golden Age of Hollywood was in full swing and the screen sirens of the time very much redefined the standard of women's beauty.

Women once again became more body conscious as they began watching what they ate and working out became a norm. During this time, the modern-day bra was introduced to help women get the support they needed. Unlike the 20’s, hairstyles became more feminine and dyeing your hair was extremely common. Makeup was a little less dramatic with women opting for the “girl next door” look.

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, smoking was the ultimate sign of sexy.

The 1950’s, known as Mid-Century Conservative, women desired a more hourglass figure popularized by movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. Women dressed to allure men but rarely showed skin.

Hair in the 1950’s was usually kept short and worn in curly or wavy styles. Women also began to focus on having flawless skin.

During the 1960's, there were many different beauty movements happening at once. Many women were inspired to become rail thin like Twiggy while others felt that more curves were better.

60’s fashion changed the way people dressed for a really long time with modern girls having short pixie cuts and dramatic eye makeup. The mini skirt also screamed sexy.

The 60’s also gave us hippie culture, where women were practicing free love and refused to shave under their arms and legs. They usually went for longer hairstyles and avoided makeup.

By the time the 1970’s rolled around, the Disco Era was in full force and the motto “Thinking Thin” was on every woman's mind. Clothing was very sexy with the introduction of the wrap dress and hot pants. And we cannot forget the oversized sunglasses.

The 70’s introduced us to the bronze beach look and the tanning salon trend. Farah Fawcett was a style and beauty icon with her long feathered hair cut that every woman wanted to have.

One thing was for sure about the 80’s: big hair and bigger shoulders were in vogue. Women were very conscious about their body and the aerobic craze took the world by storm. During this time, eating disorders sky rocketed. Hair was big and makeup was incredibly bold. The woman's power suit became a staple for women who had high-powered jobs.

The 1990’s was a turning point. With models like Kate Moss coming onto the scene, “heroin chic” was born and made many women lust for a dangerously slender appearance.

Unlike the 1980’s, minimalistic makeup was key and women saved the exaggerated makeup for special events.

From the 2000’s to the present, women are still expected to live up to an impossibly thin standard body type but more voluptuous women are making a storm in the fashion world. Women are more open to being who they are and feel they need to express themselves however they want. With major fashion houses becoming more mainstream and much more accessible, the perceptions of fashion and beauty have never been more diverse!