1900-1919: The Gibson Girl
Thought up by Charles Dana Gibson in the 1890s, the "Gibson Girl" was meant to be the embodiment of the everyday American woman throughout the early 1900s. This woman was meant to be slender and tall with a voluptuous bust and wide hips separated by an impossibly tiny waist. In order to achieve this figure, corsets were worn as an everyday undergarment for women of all social classes. In addition to this body type, Gibson girls were expected to be up-to-date on fashion and style as well as lead an active lifestyle.