The history of the female waistline please?

Question

SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY!!!!

What is the history of the female waistline? I know that women generally had very tiny waistlines, like less than a foot in circumferance. Why? How? When did it start? When was this in fashion, out of fashion? What was the main reason why, ie what did this mean to people?

I see photos of women during the 1800s with such tiny waistlines, it looks like the pictures are photoshopped, but I know that's impossible. What do you know about this?

Answer 1

While when corsets were high in fashion women had their waist crushed down to a rediculous size, I doubt it was under a foot. 14 inches sounds about what I've heard- on the smaller size. it was absolutely because of fashion, and done similarly to foot binding in China. Women fainted constantly, broke ribs, and had miscarriages in attempt to look daintier. IThis is a guess, but I believe it was in the Victorian era? During the renaissance, men favored plump women.

Answer 2

I can tell you the history of mine . It was very small until I had kids now not so much . I kid because I have no idea .