Globalization hasn’t only changed the way we do business: it’s had an impact on what we consider to be beautiful, too. Just as many lament the McDonald’s and Starbucks on every corner, where once there might have been a local restaurant, so too has what people wear become homogenized in our Global Village.
Love Levi’s? Buy them practically anywhere. Want a pair of New Balance shoes in Eastern Europe? There’s a specialty shop for that.
Before mass communication, and television in particular, there was quite a difference in what we thought was attractive, as this list of postcards from 1900-1910, collected by user PostMan on Flickr, shows.
Which photo is the most surprising? Vote on the photos below, or if you have any vintage shots of ladies’ fashion, post them!
More info: Flickr (h/t: designyoutrust)
#1 Luzon Woman From The Philippines
Image source: PostMan
#2 Japan Female-warrior
#3 Gypsy Girl With Mandolin
Image source: PostMan
#4 Anna May Wong Was The First Chinese American Movie Star, And The First Asian American Actress To Gain International Recognition
Image source: PostMan
#5 Young Algerian Girls
Image source: PostMan
#6 Lily Elsie, English Actress And Singer
Image source: PostMan
#7 Berberian Girl
Image source: PostMan
#8 Anna Pavlovna Was A Russian Prima Ballerina
Image source: PostMan
#9 Rita Martin
Image source: PostMan
#10 Unknown Lady With Book
Image source: PostMan
#11 Nepaly Lady
Image source: PostMan
#12 Unknown Young Lady In Traditional Dress
Image source: PostMan
#13 Queen Mary Of Romania
#14 Unknown Lady
Image source: PostMan
#15 Agnes Ayres Was An American Actress Who Rose To Fame During The Silent Film Era
Image source: PostMan
#16 Unknown Lady With Book
Image source: PostMan
#17 Unknown Japanese Woman With Umbrella
Image source: PostMan
#18 Gabrielle Ray Was An English Stage Actress, Dancer And Singer
Image source: PostMan
#19 Unknown Lady With Book
Image source: PostMan
#20 Louise Derval
Image source: PostMan
#21 Sisters From The Philippines In The 20’s.
#22 Unknown Japanese Lady With Long Hair
Image source: PostMan
#23 Carolina “la Belle” Otéro Was A Spanish-born Dancer, Actress And Courtesan
Image source: PostMan
#24 Young Vietnamese Woman With Sword
Image source: PostMan
#25 Miss Valli Valli
Image source: PostMan
#26 Unknown Tonkin Lady With Big Hat
Image source: PostMan
#27 Princess Viktoria Luise Von Preußen
Image source: PostMan
#28 Unknown Lady With Long Hair
Image source: PostMan
#29 M. Thermonde
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#30 Tamil Girl
Image source: PostMan
#31 Unknown Gypsy Girl
Image source: PostMan
#32 Unknown Japanese Woman With Umbrella
Image source: PostMan
#33 Two Pretty Young Ladies
Image source: PostMan
#34 Beduinin
Image source: PostMan
#35 Beautiful Geisha
Image source: PostMan
#36 Cambodian Girl
Image source: PostMan
#37 Unknown Lady, Vintage Erotica
Image source: PostMan
#38 Unknown Lady With Big Hat
Image source: PostMan
#39 Margaretha Geertruida Macleod Better Known By The Stage Name Mata Hari
Image source: PostMan
#40 Vesta Tilley Was A Star Of The English Music Hall Circuit For More Than Four Decades
Image source: PostMan
#41 Unknown Lady With Flowers
Image source: PostMan
#42 Two Unknown Young Ladies
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#43 Unknown Lady With Cigarette
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#44 Algerian Dancer
Image source: PostMan
#45 Unknown Lady In Nice Dress
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#46 Unknown Lady With Big Hat And Umbrella
Image source: PostMan
#47 Matilda Alice Powles, An English Music Hall Performer
Image source: PostMan
#48 French Show Girl Backstage
Image source: PostMan
#49 Russian Opera Singer Makarova
Image source: PostMan
#50 Young Japanese Lady
Image source: PostMan
#51 Burmese Dancing Girl
Image source: PostMan
#52 Unknown Lady
Image source: PostMan
#53 Georgette Delmare
Image source: PostMan
#54 Tamil Girl From Ceylon
Image source: PostMan
#55 Unknown Lady
Image source: PostMan
#56 Vintage Erotica
Image source: PostMan
#57 Unknown Geisha
Image source: PostMan
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