The idea of perfect beauty has shaped the public consciousness for thousands of years. It has constrained and defined women whilst liberating and inspiring others.
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Throughout history, a small waist has been admired and viewed as the ideal. This reached its zenith in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the introduction of steel, rather than whale, boning. During this time, it was common to pad the bust and the hips to emphasise the tiny size of the waist - not surprisingly, this was the era of the bustle and, later, the pigeon-fronted bodice.
