Waistline Collection

Fashionable Shape 1906
The fashionable silhouette of the period as personified by the actress Camille Clifford. The waistline may possibly have been re-touched

Mrs. Elizabeth Cameron, full-length portrait, seated, facing front, between c1890 and c1910. [Elizabeth Cameron, second wife of Senator Donald Cameron, mother of Martha Cameron]

Bum cleavage, Norfolk
A male painter, stripped to the waist, shows the cleavage of his buttocks as he works on the deck of a boat, First published The Daily Telepgraph Date: 1989

Two Women in Day Dresses, 1875. Creator: Jules David
Two Women in Day Dresses, 1875

High-Waisted Gown, n. d. Creator: John Downman
High-Waisted Gown, n.d

Dress, c. 1940. Creator: Roberta Spicer
Dress, c. 1940

Dress, c. 1936. Creator: Roberta Spicer
Dress, c. 1936

Dress, c. 1937. Creator: Roberta Spicer
Dress, c. 1937

Dress, c. 1936. Creator: Erwin Schwabe
Dress, c. 1936

Madame Paul Escudier (Louise Lefevre), 1882. Creator: John Singer Sargent
Madame Paul Escudier (Louise Lefevre), 1882

We are All Hanging On III, (bronze with brown patina)
988179 We are All Hanging On III, (bronze with brown patina) by Varela, Abigail (b.1948); 146.1x58.4x29.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: We are All Hanging On III; Todos Estamos Colgados III)

Advert. Pears Golden Glory Soap
Advert, Pears Golden Glory Soap. circa 1930s

Woman Walker in a Hurry, (bronze with brown patina)
987970 Woman Walker in a Hurry, (bronze with brown patina) by Varela, Abigail (b.1948); 78.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman Walker in a Hurry; Caminadora Apurada. Abigail Varela (b.1948)

Two Nudes in the Room; Zwei Akte im Raum, 1914 (oil on canvas)
824298 Two Nudes in the Room; Zwei Akte im Raum, 1914 (oil on canvas) by Kirchner, Ernst Ludwig (1880-1938); 101.6x75 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Two Nudes in the Room; Zwei Akte im Raum)

Waistline
Marcus Hennen

higgledy-piggledy
500px Photo ID: 230752493 - If you like my work, feel free to like, comment, share, follow me on 500px, on facebook or instagram .. Marcus Hennen

Portrait of Lucy Parry, Wife of Admiral Parry, 1745-1749. Creator: John Wollaston
Portrait of Lucy Parry, Wife of Admiral Parry, 1745-1749

Young Edwardian lady wearing a fashionable frock, with white cloth adorned with hairpin work and trimmed with raw edged flounces. Date: 1904

A women wearing a seasonable jacket for winter, with moleskin trimmed with braid and ball tassels. January 1904

Two Women in Day Dresses: Preparatory drawing for a fashion plate from Le Moniteur de la Mode, October 19, 1886

Fashion illustration, no. 2224, July 1885. Creator: Jules David
Fashion illustration, no. 2224, July 1885

Such things are, That such things are we must allow, but such things never were till now, 1787. A satire on the unflattering fashions of the day

Shepherds, I have lost my waist! Have you seen my body?... 1795. Artist: Richard Newton
Shepherds, I have lost my waist! Have you seen my body? Sacrificed to modern taste, I m quite a hoddy doddy!, 1795. A satire on the unflattering fashions of the day

Woman with Umbrella, 1898. Artist: Paul Signac
Woman with Umbrella, 1898. Located in the collecion at, Museum d Orsay, Paris

Attributed Anders Eklund Johan Rosir 1709-1787
Attributed to Anders Eklund, Johan Rosir, 1709-1787, Master, painting, Oil on canvas, Pictured as Elderly, Waistline, head from left, in shirt sleeves and red vest, playing citters, Height

Winter fashion 1935
Back page of a fashion catalogue, showing three women in bright winter coats. Date: 1935

Autumn wardrobe 1935
Back page of a fashion catalogue, showing three women wearing autumn wardrobe. Date: 1935

Advert for Battle Creek Health Builder 1929
Mechanical massaging exercise machine that with a vibrating belt, used by 80, 000 men and women in the 1920s. Date: 1929

Advert for Abplanalps Institute, cure of obesity 1929
Showing a man with large a waistline and after the recommended workout slim two months later. For all sexes the cure of obesity, free booklet and cinema demonstration

Wartime underwear article, Britannia and Eve magazine, 1940
Page from Britannia and Eve magazine, September 1940, reporting on various types of foundation garments to ensure a controlled figure under clothing

Depiction of Summer 1903
A depiction of Summer showing a woman wearing a reform style tunic dress with uncorseted waistline. She picks cornflowers from a cornfield to decorate her straw hat

Fashion for the evening and afternoon clothing 1912
French model wearing clothing for the evening threatre and afternoon, creations by Buzenet. Date: 1912

City ​​dress and evening coat 1912
French model wearing long narrow sleeved velvet city dress with leather belt and fur collar. And an evening dress with a wide sleeved fur coat made of diagonal stripes and silk lining. 1912

Advert for Gorringes womens frocks 1927
Inexpensive womens frocks just below the knee with drop waists. 1927

COSTUME 1794-5
German Spring & Winter fashions of 1794-5 showing a change in style from the natural waistline to a high waistline & softer silhouette. N.B Buffont corsage. Date: 1794 - 1795

Knitting pattern 1949
Knitting pattern providing instructions on how to make a sweater with button front, short sleeve, high neck and small collar. 1949

Obesity C015 / 4067
Obesity. Close-up of a mans bulging waistline

Abplanalp exercise regime advertisement
Advertisement for Abplanalp, a Swiss system of exercise and weight loss, showing a before and after photograph of a man whose waistline has improved considerably in the space of just two months

Waistline Exercises
An exercise designed to trim your waist and tone your thighs. Date: late 1930s

Young lady in tubular dress by Molyneux
Young lady wearing a silk crepe tubular shaped dress with low waistline, holding a straw bonnet with ribbon, by Molyneux. 1924

Brown Open Bodice 1899
Open bodice with revers that extend beyond the waistline, tight sleeves pleated at the shoulder, gored tunic open to reveal an embroidered under- skirt & pouched blouse. Date: 1899

Weightloss, conceptual image. Computer artwork of an apple with a measuring tape wrapped around it, representing weightloss through healthy eating

Dieting, conceptual image. Computer artwork of a fork with a measuring tape wrapped around it, representing weightloss through dieting

End to rationing / W H Robinson
Facing up to an unrationed world after the end of world war two. Please note: Credit must appear as (c) Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library

Walking Dress 1822
White dress with highly ornate & padded over-sleeves, cuffs, hem & bodice & with a natural waistline, also a lace collar, gold belt, parasol & gauze hat trimmed with camelias

Dress of First Empire
A gown of the first French Empire, with a high waistline, puffed sleeves & ornameneted on the sleeves and hemline with vandyking, according to a later source

Peasant Style Dress 1923
A dress inspired by European peasant costume: applique trim, full sleeves, low waistline & gathered skirt. Also a hat with a broad brim & cockade & a stocking purse

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The waistline has always been a fashionable shape throughout history. From the elegant Two Women in Day Dresses of 1875 by Jules David to the high-waisted gown captured by John Downman, it is clear that this feature has played a significant role in defining women's fashion. In the early 1900s, the waistline became synonymous with style and sophistication. The Fashionable Shape of 1906 showcased how women embraced corsets to achieve an hourglass figure, accentuating their curves and creating a stunning silhouette. Fast forward to the 1930s and 1940s, where winter and autumn wardrobes highlighted the importance of a well-defined waistline. Winter fashion in 1935 saw women donning coats that cinched at their waists, while autumn wardrobe choices emphasized tailored jackets paired with skirts that flattered their figures. But it wasn't just outerwear that celebrated this coveted feature; even undergarments like those advertised for Battle Creek Health Builder in 1929 were designed to enhance one's waistline. Wartime underwear articles from Britannia and Eve magazine in 1940 revealed how women maintained their feminine allure even during challenging times. Designers like Roberta Spicer understood the power of emphasizing the waistline through her creations. Whether it was her dress from c. 1940 or those from c. 1936 and c. 1937, Spicer's designs exuded elegance while highlighting this alluring aspect of femininity. Not limited to dresses alone, Erwin Schwabe also recognized its significance when he crafted his dress from c. 1936 – showcasing how blouses could be tucked into high-waisted skirts for a chic ensemble. Throughout history, whether through corsets or clever tailoring techniques, designers have consistently acknowledged the impact of a defined waistline on women's fashion choices. It remains an enduring symbol of grace and beauty - forever etched as an integral part of the sartorial landscape.