Most women in the U. S. would like to have a figure like
20-year-old Model June Cox. Miss Cox is 5 ft 6¾ in tall and weighs 124 lb. According to life insurance statistics she should weigh 135 lb
The perfect 1938 figure must have curves but it differs from the perfect figure of past decades in relationship of curves to straight lines. In the 1800s women had full bosoms, round hips. In actual measurements they probably were no rounder than Miss Cox but they seemed so because they were shorter, tightened their waists into an hour-glass effect.
As the American girl stressed sports, she grew taller and flatter. The boyish form became the vogue.
With the recent return of the romantic influence in clothes, the soft feminine figure is again back in style.
Now, though, the ideal figure must have a round, high bosom, a slim but not wasp-like waist, and gently rounded hips, Because U.S. women sit so much-in autos, at bridge tables, at desks and in the movies-big hips are their most serious figure problem. On the whole, though, they have the sort of figure that prompted dumpy Elsa Maxwell to say "No French women should be seen on the beach by her lover-all American women should."
by CryptographerKey2847
7 Comments
I’m curious about the tiny 6 inch wrist.
Don’t tell me what to do, patriarchy.
Athletic with no hips.
Pining for a 21 1/2′” head. 😢
1938, and looking positively Aryan 🫣
>In the 1800s women had full bosoms, round hips. In actual measurements they probably were no rounder than Miss Cox but they seemed so because they were shorter, tightened their waists into an hour-glass effect.
FYI, this is inaccurate. I do a lot of sewing from antique sewing manuals, and the starting bust size for most drafting manuals is usually 36-38 inches. That gets recommended because it’s the most used size and they say it will fit most women. The systems I’ve looked at usually go up to a 50- to 55-inch bust. They’re mostly designed to be used by professional dressmakers, and they’re intended to meet the range of sizes that the dressmakers will see in their professional lives.
Not falling for your lies, Life magazine!
>they have the sort of figure that prompted dumpy Elsa Maxwell to say “No French women should be seen on the beach by her lover-all American women should.”
Elsa Maxwell was a socialite known for her [parties for the rich and famous]( https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/maxwell-elsa-1883-1963).
She’s credited with the introduction of the scavenger hunt and the treasure hunt as party games in modern times.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, Elsa Maxwell [was a household name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Maxwell#References_in_popular_culture).