How have beauty standards for women changed between the Middle Ages and modernity?

by wewew47

Additionally, how have the consequences for dressing/looking outside the social norm changed? For example, I’ve heard that some women were burned at the stake for the way they dressed, and some victorians were excluded from society for exposing ankles. Were these common, or were consequences usually more minor?

Thanks to anyone answering this for their time, the work that goes into this sub is fantastic and I appreciate it a ton!

mimicofmodes

There's always more to be said, but I've written on this a few times:

Did heavier men and women used to be considered more attractive before industrialization? Are there representations of this in art or literature of the time period?

Changing standards of beauty gets talked about, but always about what men find attractive in women. Is there any record of changing standards of beauty in what women like in men? Would a male movie star today be found as attractive by ancient/medieval/early modern women?

Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures depicted women as soft with curves. Which period of time did we begin to see the ideal female body as having a lower body fat?

Feel free to ask any follow-up questions here - the answers are quite old.