Perfect measurements for women: do they really exist?
Female beauty has always been one of humanity's greatest intrigues . But how have beauty standards changed over the years? Above all, are there really ideal standards that a woman should live up to?
In this article, we explore how the ideal of female beauty has changed throughout history , reflecting fashions, social, and economic changes that have influenced the concept of female beauty.
The history of female beauty standards: how have they changed over time?
Over the course of history, the definition of female beauty has changed dramatically. Starting in the Stone Age, women were considered beautiful only if they had a robust and healthy body, the only sign of fertility.
In ancient Greece, beauty was associated with smooth, harmonious female figures , with a slim waist and wide hips, while in ancient Rome, more buxom figures were preferred.
In the Middle Ages, women were considered more beautiful if they had a curvy and well-proportioned body. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution and mass media, standards of female beauty changed rapidly.
In modern times, they have been influenced by changing cultural and social ideals.
Analyzing the reflections and artistic productions that have followed one another over the years, it clearly emerges that the concept of beauty has taken on different forms depending on the place and era, often even simultaneously.
Over the centuries, two ideals of beauty have consistently emerged, especially with regards to the female figure:
- The Greek Venus, with a slender and youthful physiognomy
- The Paleolithic Venus , with soft and sinuous lines, symbol of fertility
An extreme synthesis of the ideals of Beauty is represented by Nietzsche's polarization between the Apollonian aspect, characterized by harmony, order and rationality, and the Dionysian aspect, centered on intoxication, passion and sensuality.
The Apollonian ideal was most evident in classical Greece, the medieval, Renaissance, neoclassical, and Victorian periods, while the Dionysian ideal prevailed especially in Hellenistic Greece, imperial Rome, the Mannerist and Baroque periods, and the Romantic and late bourgeois eras.
Let's try to get into specifics and delve deeper , one historical period at a time, into the canons of beauty that have followed one another over time:
Ancient Egypt
The Egyptian woman's body was supposed to be slender, with narrow shoulders, a high waist, and a symmetrical face. Her features were supposed to express primarily grace and sweetness.
Ancient Greece
For the Greeks, beauty was a combination of grace, moderation, proportion, balance, symmetry, and harmony. In artistic production, women are depicted with broad hips, breasts, and buttocks that are not overly pronounced but round and firm.
Ancient Rome
Initially, the beauty standard of reference was that of the Mediterranean model : long, dark hair, olive complexion, small breasts and wide hips.
Subsequently, expanding into Northern Europe, the reference model became the tall, blonde or red-haired woman, with blue eyes and very pale skin.
Middle Ages
Medieval women had extremely pale skin, a slender body, and blond hair. Their eyes were blue and their lips rosy. A prominent midriff was a powerful sign of beauty, so much so that many women wore padding under their clothes to make it more pronounced. Meanwhile, breasts had to be hidden as much as possible with bandages that helped flatten them.
Renaissance
During this period , women returned to the canons of ancient Greece, with softer, more abundant forms. The preference for very pale complexions also remained in vogue.
Victorian Era
The full—but not fat—body was increasingly emphasized and was actually the favorite of this historical era . The waist was extremely important: to maximize it, women wore very tight corsets that often also prevented them from breathing properly.
Industrial era
Referring especially to the early 1900s, therefore the 1920s, we can notice how a real regression took place in terms of female aesthetic canons: slim bodies, flat breasts, short hair, etc. came back into fashion .
Only thirty years later, with the end of World War II, the world would change course again, turning its attention to more buxom female forms. In these years, the female role model was the Hollywood pin-up .
Contemporary years
From the 1990s until at least 2010 , the standard of female beauty returned to being slim, flat, slender, and tall.
Coming up to the present day, we can say that more than a real canon of beauty, society is trying to enter into the mindset of acceptance of any shape of the female body : the attention is entirely focused on self-love regardless of how the body looks.
Are we perhaps heading towards the end of the stereotyping of beauty?
The ideal body measurements of a woman
The ideal measurements for a female body vary from culture to culture and even from era to era.
However, in general, it is believed that the ideal body has a slim waist and wide hips, with a high and ample bust .
Our culture , today, is gradually moving toward the abolition of true ideal measures . The idea is to make every body equal and beautiful. The only condition? Loving yourself.
The 90-60-90 rule: does it still exist?
According to classical canons , however, these are the measurements that correspond to female aesthetic perfection.
- The first 90 refers to the circumference of the chest
- 60 at waist circumference
- The second 90 to the hip circumference
These measurements refer to a typical, perfect Mediterranean body: a wasp waist with ample hips and breasts. Although this was the norm for many years, it's important not to consider this rule as a goal to be achieved. The important thing is to be able to feel good in your own body.
1,618: the golden number
The search for ideal and perfect measurements dates back to Roman times when it was established that 1,618 was the “golden number”, the only one capable of expressing a perfectly harmonious and proportionate anatomy.
Even according to Leonardo Da Vinci this was the “golden ratio” for any body that wants to be defined as harmonious.
But how can it be calculated?
The measures to take into consideration are the following:
- Chest circumference at its widest point (B)
- Waist at its narrowest point (W)
- Line joining the hips to the waist (HW)
At this point it will be possible to proceed with the operations:
- (BW) x BW x 0.5 = chest measurement
- (HW) x HW x 0.5 = size measurement
- Chest measurement + waist measurement / waist measurement = the ideal proportion for your body
Do weight and height matter?
Weight and height are important factors in estimating the range in which our body is actually healthy without risking becoming underweight or overweight.
It should be remembered, however, that the body mass indicators recognized by the WHO are, in fact, indicators and must be adapted to each specific case and cannot be standardized in any way.
The perfect fit simply doesn't exist. Everyone can find their own harmony through the right balance between shape and body aesthetics. The frantic pursuit of "perfect fit" is nothing more than a distorted vision of reality imposed by modern society. The truth is that each of us is unique in our own way.
How to enhance your curves?
It's always possible to enhance your curves . To do so, it's important to wear clothes that highlight your strong points and minimize the areas you consider weak.
Where to start to avoid mistakes? Definitely with underwear . Read this article to discover how to enhance your curves with the perfect underwear for you.
Opting for a bodysuit is ideal to ensure it hugs your body naturally, enhancing your femininity in maximum comfort.
This type of lingerie caresses the skin and provides moments of pure well-being. The most popular among women? The shapewear bodysuit. Read this guide to find out how to choose the right one for you.
Remember: Your only goal shouldn't be to achieve perfection, but to be the best version of yourself . There's nothing sexier than that!
And if we're talking about sensuality, we can say that it's triggered by what makes you feel physically good and brings your entire being into harmony: its driving factors are self-love and self-esteem.
Read our tips to best enhance your sensuality.
Body positivity or body neutrality?
In recent years, several social movements are changing the way people view their bodies . Among these, the most famous are certainly the "Body Positivity" and "Body Neutrality" movements. Let's delve deeper into both to find out more.
Body positivity is a movement that encourages people to accept and love themselves for who they are , regardless of body size or physical characteristics. One of the movement's main goals is to challenge society's standards of beauty.
Unlike Body Positivity, which encourages people to feel beautiful and confident at any size, Body Neutrality advocates completely eliminating physical appearance as part of a person's self-esteem. It recommends focusing more on how you feel about your body and what it can do, rather than how it looks at a specific moment.
It is important to underline that accepting oneself does not mean becoming lazy and avoiding improving oneself : each individual is constantly evolving and, as already mentioned, should work to reach the best version of themselves without however striving for perfection that does not exist.
In recent years, standards of female beauty have changed significantly, and for the better. Most women today recognize that beauty isn't defined by a single standard, but rather is a combination of diverse aspects, including cultural, ethnic, and physical diversity.
We hope this is just the beginning of a new era where all women can feel valued for who they are, regardless of their appearance.
The Golden Rule: Love yourself for who you are
The truth is that imperfection is the most authentic form of perfection , simply because the latter does not exist and never has. No rule, proportion, or mathematical calculation can be stronger than self-love.
There's only one goal to achieve in your life: the best you can be. A constantly evolving and transforming concept that makes you incredibly fascinating.
Being imperfect is perfectly human : we all have flaws, and embracing them can make a substantial difference in your life.
The media has accustomed us so much to looking at others that we have ended up forgetting to look at ourselves, which is why we have so much difficulty accepting and respecting ourselves for who we are.
Today, you can make a difference: stop looking outside and learn to look at yourself, loving yourself as you deserve.
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