The Demands of Fashion – How A Woman’s Attributes are Affected

The mere word fashion illustrates and concocts images of an array of trends and designs often brought about by individual tastes and requirements. However, these demands of fashion were placed upon women simply by those seeking to be regarded as fashionable. This ranges from the Victorian period through to the modern day, covering a considerable expanse of time in the fashion era.

Although the trend changes the overall concept of women’s fashion, it is apparent to events that have occurred that a woman should possess a tiny waist. This has been shown in fashions over the years, with continued emphasis on this. Media coverage of women’s waist, bust and hemline never ceases and has adorned the pages of women’s fashion magazines for many years. Women’s fashion has lived by this concept since the birth of the fashion magazine.

Do You Have a Waist?

In the 1800s, the Victorian age, although dresses were remarkably flowing, with layers of petticoats and padding giving a bouffant style, the waist was one that had to be tightly corseted and laced to ensure it was the tiniest it could ever be. So to achieve this fashionable look, assistance had to be sought to ensure this was carried out. This look was thought to be most charming and attractive and obviously much sought after by both genders.

By the beginning of the twentieth-century, trends and fashion developed a more relaxed approach to a woman’s waistline, and the corsets were replaced with more comfortable garments that did not need the aid of a second person to ensure that the best results were achieved. This enhanced women’s comfort and enabled them to move more freely, but they were still able to comply with the demands that fashion put on them.

Does This Short Hemline Really Make me Look Good?

1920 saw the new high-waisted look appear with the flapper style, as it was known. This style enabled emphasis to be taken away from the natural waistline, and placed upon the hemline of the skirt instead, drastically shortening it to what was seen to be an extremely short skirt by previous standards. This was regarded as one of the radical changes that had occurred for several centuries. In fact, this alteration to hemlines has remained ever since, apart from the occasional lapse to longer lengths. As the new, raised hemline was seen as a pleasant relief by the male gender, because waistlines and bust-lines were now ignored, this eventually gave way to a more masculine look for women.

When the 1930s arrived, it was felt that a more feminine approach was needed, and the small waist re-emerged prompting an image of a more romantic nature with a more classic style.

My Bust-line is My Best Line.

As the forties approached, still the little waist remained. However, more importance was placed on the bust line which gave the impression of an even smaller waistline. The overall effect was enhanced even further by the introduction of fuller skirts. As we progressed to the fifties, the fashion changed again, but this time it was shoulders that were the center of attention and the high-waisted look returned.

A dramatic shake up occurred in the 1960s with the extremely short skirt being introduced and known as the mini-skirt. This took the fashion industry over by storm and was extremely popular for every woman, regardless of age and size. So the attention was diverted from the waistline to the hemline and enabled many women to breathe a sigh of relief and let their waistline go.

Ever since the sixties, the tiny waistline has never quite returned, and it seems that the corset will remain unused enabling women to remain relaxed. The size of their waist will not determine the way they dress. Consequently, whether you have a weight problem or are slender, you are able to choose the fashion that suits you.