It is sensory, it is individual, and it is evolutionary.
Beauty is a concept that is left to opinion or some would say common consensus, however, in a strictly technical sense beauty is defined as “the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).”
In a society that holds the standard “sex sells” above all else, it is no wonder that we have developed a standard of beauty that includes bikini-clad Brazilian supermodels, mini skirts that we struggle to maintain some moral standing in, and heels that are literally millimeters from impossible.
It’s interesting to observe the changes society’s idea of a standard beautiful woman has gone through. A hundred years ago for a woman to be walking around in a little black dress and five-inch stilettos would have incited a riot, but today women wear that to work. How this change occurred and how beauty has evolved over time can be seen through a gradual change in the dress of the times.
Women in the 1900s:
Were heavily influenced by fashion of European countries and dressed in full-length dresses for every occasion, usually topping it off with a big broad hat.
This picture shows a woman in a lingerie dress (not like our lingerie, it was just a typical day-to-day dress). To immerse yourself in the era, I recommend watching a rendition of Oscar Wilde and the “Importance of Being Earnest.”
Women in the 1950s:
The world saw radical changes from the 1900s to the 1950s — and beauty was no different. Everything from dress to hairstyles evolved. The full-length hems and neatly pinned up-dos of the 1900s were no more.
Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn had hit the scene and fashion would never be the same.
Above is typical make-up and hair of the day, below is an ordinary dress.
Women in the 1970s:
Bring on the peace, love and bell-bottoms! In the 1970s, Disco was the reigning king and Woodstock and free love had a grip on American culture. This was the heyday of Farrah Fawcett, big hair, platform shoes, and pants were finally in style for women.
Women now:
Welcome to the new millennium where hemlines are shorter, weights are lower and heels are higher than they ever have been before. The most beautiful people in our world today seem to be modeling lingerie, shaking their behind on a stage or marrying some sort of professional athlete. Beauty and sex today are interrelated, but if there’s one thing to know about fashion and beauty, it is that everything seems to find a way to come back in style.
Adriana Lima, one of the world’s most beautiful people, modeling uninhibitedly and successfully in her underwear around the world.
Whether the change is good or bad is strictly a matter of opinion. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, it does give a whole new perspective to how our grandparents and older generation must see our world today.
Definition:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beauty
Images:
Lingerie Dress (photo): sensibility.com; http://sensibility.com/vintageimages/1900s/images/dreamyfront.jpg
Made-up woman (photo): unique-vintage.com; http://www.unique-vintage.com/images/makeup-54.gif
1950s dress (photo): unique-vintage.com; http://www.unique-vintage.com/images/1950’sdress5.gif
Farrah Fawcett (photo): beautybombshells.com; http://www.beautybombshells.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/farrahcolour.jpg
Bellbottoms (photo): http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Qy4SHykMWac/S_YIg8K83TI/AAAAAAAAJzE/6_fIAIrsdOE/533px-Redhead_Beach_Bell_Bottoms%5B5%5D.jpg
Adriana Lima (photo) tvsmacktalk.com; http://www.tvsmacktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ADRIANA-LIMA-victorias-secret-2509609-800-600.jpg
Rihanna (photo): thebudgetfashionista.com; http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Best-o…