When we reminisce about past fashion trends, it’s easy to idealize them, assuming they were simpler or more elegant than today’s styles. However, some fashion choices from history are so unexpected that even today’s boldest trends might seem tame in comparison. From eyebrow styling to extreme beauty rituals, historical fashion reveals a world of unique practices that go far beyond the ordinary.
1. Skincare with Gladiator Sweat
Ancient Roman noblewomen had a particular way of achieving their desired skin tone: gladiator sweat. Considered a luxurious skin elixir, gladiators’ sweat was collected and bottled, then mixed with olive oil. For wealthy Roman women, this concoction was believed to add a glow and enhance skin tone. While this practice might sound strange to us, it was an elite beauty treatment, emphasizing the Romans’ love for distinctive and extravagant beauty rituals.
2. The Unibrow: A Sign of Beauty in Ancient Greece
Eyebrows have long played a role in defining beauty, but in ancient Greece, the unibrow was especially prized. Women who didn’t naturally have this feature often resorted to “wig” eyebrows made from goat hair to create a connected brow line. This symbolized intelligence and beauty, setting a unique standard that highlights how eyebrow trends have transformed over time.
3. Colorful Eyebrows in Ancient China
In China, during the Eastern Han period (2nd–3rd century), vibrant-colored eyebrows became a symbol of wealth and distinction. Emperor-inspired trends led to royal women shaving off their natural brows to draw on new ones in shades of blue, using expensive, imported inks. This practice not only showcased the emperor’s aesthetic preferences but also his affluence, as foreign ink was rare and costly, making colorful brows a mark of privilege.
4. The Baby-Face Aesthetic of Medieval Europe
In the late 14th century, a trend emerged that emphasized a childlike innocence in women’s appearances. High foreheads and swan-like necks became the standard for beauty during Queen Isabeau of Bavaria’s era. Women shaved their foreheads and necklines, creating a “baby face” look associated with purity and innocence. This effort to appear more youthful by removing visible signs of maturity is a remarkable contrast to modern beauty standards, which often embrace more defined features.
5. Blonde Hair Becomes the Standard of Beauty in the Renaissance
During the Proto-Renaissance, blonde hair was celebrated as the ideal, thanks in part to the Italian poet Petrarch and his muse, Laura. To achieve this look, women underwent lengthy processes to dye their hair golden. This involved multiple stages, each requiring a mix of herbal concoctions and up to four days for completion. Women covered their heads with leaves and applied a sequence of treatments to create a radiant, blonde appearance, demonstrating the lengths they were willing to go for beauty.
6. The Quest for an Ultra-Tiny Waist with Corsets
The corset, often associated with Victorian fashion, dates back even earlier, with roots in the Bronze Age. By the 15th century, corsets had gained popularity across Europe, with wearers often aiming to reduce their waist sizes to as little as 13 inches. During Catherine de’ Medici’s time, these waist-shrinking garments were essential for achieving a flat silhouette, prioritizing an uncurved appearance that sacrificed comfort—and even internal health—in the name of beauty.
7. Painted Veins to Enhance Décolleté Beauty
In the 17th century, low necklines were fashionable, and the desire to appear delicate led to an unusual enhancement technique: painting veins on the chest. Women applied blue paint along their exposed décolleté to create an illusion of translucent, fragile skin. This approach not only underscored a desire for delicacy but also demonstrated how intricate beauty standards could become in emphasizing an elegant, ethereal look.
8. Porcelain Skin and the Hazards of White Lead
The 18th century saw the peak of the pale skin trend, especially in England, where white skin was associated with nobility and refinement. Women achieved this effect using face powders made with white lead, a hazardous substance that, while effective in creating an even complexion, had severe health repercussions. Some even used dried horse dung to enhance their complexion. Lead-based powders were also applied to the lips and cheeks, amplifying the contrast and achieving a striking look that prioritized appearance over safety.
9. Tooth Implants and Whitening Practices of the Georgian Era
Georgian-era beauty routines included teeth whitening techniques involving sulfuric acid, a substance that, while giving teeth a temporary gleam, also eroded enamel and damaged dental health. For those with wealth, dental “implants” were an option, using teeth sourced from live donors to fill gaps. Attached with wire, these teeth gave a temporary aesthetic improvement, showing how far individuals were willing to go for a perfect smile.
10. Long Fingernails as a Status Symbol in Imperial China
In ancient China, especially during the Qing dynasty, long fingernails were a prominent sign of wealth. Reserved for the elite, long nails signified a life of privilege and leisure, as their length implied that the wearer didn’t need to work with their hands. Some upper-class individuals grew nails up to 10 inches long, and to protect them, they wore decorative covers made from precious metals. This fashion not only celebrated wealth but also symbolized social status.
These unique beauty practices from various eras underscore how fashion has been a powerful means of expression and social standing throughout history. Each trend—no matter how unconventional it seems now—reflected the cultural values and beauty ideals of its time, adding fascinating layers to the history of fashion.