Fascinating Video Shows Women’s Ideal Body Types Over 3000 Years

Female standards of beauty change over time, and what was considered attractive only 10 or 20 years ago might not be anymore. But how have these ideals shifted over a much longer period of 3,000 years? Buzzfeed Video created a short, fascinating feature that examines the different body types seen as beautiful throughout history.

Using a diverse cast of women, we get a compelling look at praise-worthy bodies starting with Ancient Egypt (circa 1292 to 1069 BC) and ending with Postmodern Beauty (circa 2000s to today). Each has their own specific set of desirable characteristics. Ancient Greece lauded full-bodied women with light skin, while the Han Dynasty preferred large eyes and small feet.

What's clear from this video is that a definition of beauty constantly changes over time as different trends fall in and out of vogue. Some aspects make a comeback many, many years later while other traits already saw their heyday.

Buzzfeed Video YouTube channel
via [designboom]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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