I stood in my closet after having my son, feeling defeated. My favorite size 8 jeans no longer fit, and as I made the switch to a size 14, nothing in my wardrobe felt like me anymore. I had changed—physically, mentally, emotionally—but my closet hadn’t caught up.

Instead of embracing where I was, I hid behind my clothes. Oversized sweaters, loose-fitting dresses, anything that wouldn’t draw attention to the fact that my body wasn’t the same. I was a mom of two, yet I felt like I had somehow failed because I didn’t “snap back.” So I did what I knew how to do—I poured myself into helping other women feel good in their clothes, even when I didn’t feel good in mine. My blog became my outlet.

But here’s the thing—fashion isn’t just about trends. It has always been deeply tied to history, cultural shifts, and the way women’s bodies have been perceived over time. What we wear has never existed in a vacuum—it has reflected societal expectations, movements, and even the roles women were expected to play.

From corsets that forced women into impossibly tiny waists to the boyish flapper dresses of the 1920s that rejected traditional femininity, to the power suits of the 1980s that helped women claim space in corporate America—fashion has always evolved alongside the world around us.

  Fashion has always shaped beauty standards and influenced how women view their own bodies. So why do we judge ourselves when our style changes? Why do we feel pressure to “get back” to an old version of ourselves when history tells us that fashion, bodies, and beauty ideals have never stood still?

The truth is, fashion has never been stagnant—so why should we be? Throughout history, the evolution of women’s fashion has reflected deeper cultural shifts.Our lives shift, our identities evolve, and the way we dress is allowed to change with us. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost your style or struggled with body image because trends no longer suit you, this article is for you. Because when we look at history, we realize that fashion has always been in motion—and we’re meant to evolve with it. 

The Body Ideals We Praise Today Were Once Ridiculed

Before we talk about body ideals, we have to acknowledge a painful truth: some bodies were mocked, objectified, and exploited before they were ever considered beautiful.

Take Sara Baartman, a Black South African woman from the 19th century. She was taken from her homeland and put on display in Europe as a so-called "freak show attraction" because of her curvier figure, especially her full hips and backside. European audiences treated her body like an exhibit, exaggerating, mocking, and dissecting what they saw as "exotic" features.

The irony? The same features that were once ridiculed would later become trends. The hourglass figures of the 1950s, the obsession with curvy proportions in the 2010s—they all borrowed from body types that had once been deemed “too much” or “undesirable.” This isn’t just about fashion—it’s about who was allowed to be considered beautiful and who wasn’t.

This pattern didn’t start or end with Sara Baartman. Throughout history, certain body types have been shamed, only to be later praised—once the right people were wearing them.

So, when we talk about fashion and body trends, we have to acknowledge that women’s bodies—especially women of color—were treated as objects long before they were ever considered aspirational. And yet, here we are today, still being told what our bodies should or shouldn’t look like, still being pushed toward the “ideal” of the moment.

But if history tells us anything, it’s that there was never one right way to have a body.

Now, let’s take a look at how beauty standards have changed over time—and why you should never feel like your body is the problem.

The History of Beauty Standards: From Restriction to Reinvention

1800s: The Era of Restriction, Fragility & Social Status

Before the extreme hourglass obsession of the early 1900s, the 1800s had their own set of impossible body expectations. Back then, beauty wasn’t just about looking good—it was about status, control, and proving that you belonged to the "right" class of women.

The perfect woman of this era? Delicate, soft, and frail-looking. A woman who looked like she could barely hold herself up, let alone work for a living. The more impractical her clothes, the more desirable she was.

The 1800s & The Ideal of the Fragile Woman

• Soft curves and a tiny waist were everything. If you didn’t have one naturally? A corset would force you into shape.

• Full busts and wide hips were emphasized with layers of padding, lace, and exaggerated skirts.

• Fainting was practically fashionable. Women laced their corsets so tight they could barely breathe. If you passed out? You weren’t weak—you were feminine.

A woman’s frailty was romanticized. The idea was that she should be so delicate, so refined, so ladylike that she could barely move on her own. It was all about looking expensive—like you had never worked a day in your life.

Bodies as Status Symbols

Let’s be real—beauty standards have always been tied to class. In the 1800s, a woman’s body wasn’t just about looking good—it was about proving where you stood in society.

• For wealthy women, a curvy, well-fed body with pale skin was the ultimate flex. It meant you had money, leisure, and didn’t have to work.

• For working-class women, the ideal was completely different. They needed stronger bodies for labor, darker skin from working outdoors, and practical clothes that let them move.

And just like today, the beauty standard only catered to those who had the privilege to meet it.

The Late 1800s: The Gibson Girl & The Birth of the "Perfect" Woman

By the late 1800s, the beauty standard evolved again, thanks to one fictional character—the Gibson Girl.

Created by artist Charles Dana Gibson, the Gibson Girl was the first mainstream image of the "ideal woman"—one that wasn’t just shaped by real women, but by illustration, media, and pure fantasy.

The Gibson Girl was:

• Tall, slender, but still curvy. (A tiny waist was still non-negotiable.)

• Athletic, but not too strong. (She rode bikes and played tennis, but still looked effortless doing it.)

• Confident, but not too independent. (She was flirtatious, but still needed male validation.)

Basically, she was the "cool girl" of the 19th century—the kind of woman who seemed effortlessly perfect, but in reality, was just another unrealistic standard for women to chase.

Why This Still Matters Today

The 1800s might feel like a distant past, but let’s be honest—not much has changed.

• Women are still expected to fit into impossible body standards.

• Body trends still favor privilege. (If you have money, access, and resources, it’s easier to "achieve" the look of the moment.)

• We’re still chasing beauty ideals that were never designed to last.

But here’s the good news—we don’t have to play this game anymore.

If history has shown us anything, it’s that the "ideal" body will always change. The real question is: Why are we still trying to keep up?

Your body isn’t a trend. It never was. And the sooner we stop chasing a constantly shifting standard, the sooner we can actually start dressing for the life we have, not the one society tells us we should want.

1900s-1950s: Curves, Corsets & The “Perfect” Hourglass

By the early 1900s, the ideal body shape was one you had to force yourself into. Women were expected to have tiny waists, full hips, and lifted busts—and if they weren’t naturally shaped that way, corsets were there to make it happen.

Corsets weren’t just uncomfortable; they were literally life-altering. Women laced them so tightly that they struggled to breathe, sometimes fainting from lack of oxygen. Doctors warned about crushed ribs and organ displacement, but that didn’t stop women from enduring the pain—because at the time, a small waist wasn’t just a beauty standard, it was a social expectation.

Then came the 1920s flapper era, and suddenly, curves were out. Women embraced looser, boyish silhouettes, ditching corsets in favor of bandeau bras that flattened the chest. This was one of the first moments in fashion history where rejecting past beauty standards became part of the trend itself. The hourglass figure of the 1900s was seen as old-fashioned, and women celebrated youthful, straight-lined dresses that made them look more androgynous.

But, like every trend, it didn’t last. By the 1950s, curves were back in full force. The rise of Hollywood glamour brought a new idealized hourglass shape, made famous by women like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sophia Loren. This time, women weren’t wearing full corsets, but structured bras, girdles, and petticoats were still shaping their figures.

Even though the styles had changed, the pressure remained the same—women were still expected to mold their bodies to fit the times.

📌 The Body Ideal: Tiny waist, full hips, lifted bust—first forced by corsets, then by structured undergarments.

1960s-1980s: Slim Figures, Power Dressing & The Fight Against Beauty Norms

By the 1960s, the hourglass figure was out again. Instead, the ideal body became thin, youthful, and almost adolescent. Models like Twiggy defined this era with her long, stick-thin legs, small chest, and delicate frame. The goal was to look effortless, waif-like, and naturally slender—a dramatic shift from the exaggerated curves of the ‘50s.

In the 1970s, hippie fashion brought in more relaxed, free-flowing silhouettes, but the body ideal remained largely the same—thin and natural-looking.

Then came the 1980s, and women weren’t just dressing for beauty anymore—they were dressing for power. More women were stepping into corporate spaces, and their fashion reflected it. Power suits, broad-shouldered blazers, and structured tailoring created a silhouette that demanded authority.

But even though the clothes got bolder, the pressure to be thin didn’t disappear. The fitness craze exploded, and women were expected to have not just thin bodies, but toned ones. Icons like Jane Fonda and Cindy Crawford helped define the new “ideal”—lean, athletic, and always camera-ready.

📌 The Body Ideal: Long, lean, and youthful in the ‘60s, transitioning to toned, fit, and powerful in the ‘80s.

1990s-2010s: Ultra-Thin, Supermodel Culture & The Return of Curves

If the 1980s introduced toned beauty, the 1990s took it a step further—thin became the only thing that mattered.

The “heroin chic” look, made famous by Kate Moss, dominated the fashion industry. Flat stomachs, visible hip bones, and minimal curves were the new standard, reinforced by low-rise jeans and barely-there crop tops.

The early 2000s doubled down on this impossible standard. With magazines, TV, and Hollywood all glorifying thinness, women were under more pressure than ever to shrink themselves. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie embodied this look, and diet culture thrived as women chased the unattainable “perfect” size.

Then, in the 2010s, curves made a comeback—but with conditions. The hourglass figure was back, but only a specific kind. The rise of Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Lopez made a tiny waist, full hips, and sculpted proportions the new trend.

But here’s the catch—this wasn’t the natural hourglass of the 1950s. The beauty standard became hyper-exaggerated, often requiring surgery, waist trainers, or extreme fitness regimens to achieve.

📌 The Body Ideal: Ultra-thin in the ‘90s, transitioning to exaggerated, sculpted curves in the 2010s.

Today: The Shift Toward Body Neutrality (But The Pressure Still Exists)

Today, we’re seeing more body diversity in media, fashion, and beauty campaigns. Brands are expanding their size ranges, plus-size models are walking runways, and conversations around body positivity and self-acceptance are happening everywhere.

But let’s be honest—the pressure hasn’t disappeared.

Even as body positivity gains traction, the fashion industry still plays favorites. The “ideal” body may not be as rigidly defined as before, but there’s still an unspoken standard of looking toned, symmetrical, and “effortlessly” put together.

So if history has shown us anything, it’s this: beauty standards will always change. They always have.

📌 The Body Ideal: More diverse than before, but the pressure to conform still lingers.

Why You Should Stop Being So Hard on Yourself

The problem was never your body. It was never that you didn’t fit the mold—it’s that the mold keeps changing.

"If there’s one lesson to take from the history of body trends, it’s that no beauty standard is permanent. Looking back, it’s obvious that fashion and beauty trends have never been about us—they’ve been about the times we were living in. Every decade, the "ideal" woman was expected to look completely different than the one before her.

So instead of asking, "How do I fit into the trend right now?" ask yourself, "How do I make my style fit me?"

Your body is not a trend. It’s yours—through every season, every change, and every stage of your life. Instead of trying to shrink, shape, or mold yourself into whatever’s "in" right now, embrace the fact that your body is the only one that’s been with you through it all.

Fashion is supposed to serve you—not the other way around.

So the next time you catch yourself being critical of your body, remember: beauty standards aren’t real. But how you feel in your clothes? That’s something you get to define.