It is said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. The beholders have changed the benchmarks of beauty from time to time. We bring you unusual beauty practices of the medieval world that were considered fantastic back in the day.
Every century comes with its standards of good looks. It is no surprise to see that makeup and grooming practices of our times are a lot different from that of our ancestors. For example, in medieval Europe, stout women were considered as desirable as compared to skinny women. It is evident from the paintings from that time where women models for paintings were rather plump compared to today's time where thin girls are considered beautiful. Since most of the population struggled with issues as poverty, the well-endowed body of a woman represented the elite class.
In a similar vein, take a look at a few beauty practices that might look weird in the present times but were considered excellent in those times.
Colouring their teeth black: In medieval Japan, the practice of Ohaguro or blackening one’s teeth was considered to be akin to a fashion statement. The black dye was an ointment made from vinegar and iron together which also was good for the teeth as it protected tooth decay. From the fifteenth century to the early seventeenth century (1467-1603) in the Sengoku period of Japan, young daughters of army commanders would dye their teeth black when they came of age. Afterthis period, this tradition didn't entirely stop and continued till the second half of the nineteenth century. Finally, in 1870, the Japanese government banned teeth dying completely.
Extremely Tight Corsets:In thenineteenth century, the fashion magazines would advertise a desirable waist size of women as a tiny fourteen-inch which was practically impossible to achieve. This standard of beauty was first set in the sixteenth centuryby the Queen of England Elizabeth I herself. She had a legendary 14-inch waist that became a benchmark of a perfect figure. In the 1800s, the metal eyelets came in a fashion that allowed women to tighten up their corsets and laced so tightly that it hampered their blood circulation. The sole reason behind it was to achieve a thin waist just the Virgin Queen. Women could barely breathe through those tight corsets.
Foot-binding: The horrifying practise of foot-binding was carried out in China to achieve the design of women’s foot to three to five inches. The most prevalent body modifications were achieved by binding the foot tightly, causing the bones to break. As a result, the desirable feet of Chinese noblewomen would make them unable to take long step or run. The sole of the feet was bent by bringing the sole and thumbs together.
Thus, beauty is neither natural nor timeless. It results from the practices of the time, which becomes strange to some and acceptable to others.
