Waist Collection (#14)

Jade Green & Gold Gown
A gown by Jeanne Lanvin composed of a pale jade green bodice and skirt and sleeves of gold beads sewn onto a transparent net. A long belt is tied at the waist

Beaded Cape Gown 1934
A gown by Jeanne Lanvin with a black narrow skirt and beaded cape collar worn with a matching beaded hat. A long pink scarf is worn round the waist

Flower Arranging 1922
A stylish woman arranges arum lilies in a glass vase

Fashionable Frocks 1902
A lady poses in a shot pink and blue dress, while another enjoys the sea air and wears a beige and red dress with a purse attached at the waist

Seductive Woman
A woman artfully arranges her long blonde hair while looking seductively at the camera. Her dress has a plunging neckline and rose waist corsage

Fifties Girl / Long Legs
Epitomising the 1950s sweater girl, this model poses wearing a red jumper, cinched at the waist with a belt, with lipstick to match

Empire Line Revival 1910
Directoire / Empire revival gown: high waist, draped fur- trimmed corsage, tasseled girdle, finely gathered skirt ornamented at the hem with Roman style embroidery

Pearl Trimmed Dress 1910
Empire revival gown in white silk voile with a high waist, square corsage, cap sleeves & a narrow trained skirt is profusely ornamented with pearls & beads

Costume / Women / Paris 1889
A rich Parisian lady in a tight-waisted dress decorated with lace and bows

French Lady Empire 1813
A young Parisian lady wearing a white Empire-style dress, with high waist and short puffed sleeves - and the most amazing bonnet!

SOWING
A farmer and his wife sow their fields - she brings him the seed, he scatters it from the tray slung at his waist

Skunk Mantlet 1922
Woman in a skunk fur muff & mantlet with the collar faced in ermine, a belt with a decorative clasp worn low on the waist, a tubular skirt & a broad brimmed hat

Chinese Kolinsky Mantlet
A mantlet in chinese Kolinsky fur with a high stand collar, 2 large buttons & long fringing hanging from the sleeves to create the effect of a cape from the back. Date: 1922

Astrakhan Coat & Borzoi
A loose fitting sac-like short astrakan coat with funnel sleeves & a large collar & drawn in at the hips with a narrow belt

Bell Assemblee 1852
The skirt of her gown has six flounces, the sleeves have two. The bodice of the dress comprises of 2 pleats from the shoulder diminishing to a point at the waist

Stiebel / Ballgown
A flounced debutante dance frock in shadowy white organdie embroidered with navy blue. Roses held at waist by belt. Billowing skirt falls in tiers over hooped petticoat

Costume Sears Roebuck
Dress with pleated Russian tunic, low sash & gathered bodice; or flaring Russian tunic with yoke, narrow under- skirt & a hanging waist coatee bodice. Hats: brimless

Evening Dress 1860S
Coloured skirt & bodice; corsage off the shoulder, pointed waist back & front & a doule skirt. White bertha & overskirt caught up at the sides & trimmed with roses

Tartan Trim Dress 1865
Evening: short, puffed sleeves, pointed waist, over- skirt with demi-train caught up at one side. Grey dress: tartan collar, cuffs & ribbon ceinture with floating ends

French Nobles 1650
A group of French nobles; the man wears a cape, sword and spurred boots, with rosettes at his waist and knees; all support the lacemaking industry generously

FRENCHWOMAN 1780 - 1
On the eve of the Revolution, this aristocrat wears a gown with absurdly exaggerated hips, contrasting with her narrow waist and low cut bodice

Woman Circa 1460
A noblewoman of the period of Louis XI wears a simple dress with a high waist and a low- slung metal belt

Ancient Briton Woman
Heavily painted but lightly dressed in a brief skirt, this barefoot Briton carries a long spear and wears her hair loose to below her waist

Gibson Girl / Blue Dress
A fashionable Gibson Girl, with hair piled up on her head, long elegant dress and a slim waist

Eccentric Juvenile Garb
Man: trousers with decorative border on outside leg. Girl: pink print dress, pantalettes & pelerine. Boy: full skirted blue coat, V shaped waist seam & very full sleeves

Visitor in Trouble
A visitor to a country cottage finds himself in snow up to the waist within sight of his destination

Close-up of womans black Palong decoration, Keng Tung, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Nos Loisirs March 1924
Warm tubular shaped low waisted dresses: one with fur cuffs & collar & a pleated skirt, the other with double hip flounces. N.B ribbed stockings & small bags/ purses

Gents at a Ball
Two young men whispering about an attractive girl who is on the dance floor with a bearded gentleman who has his hand around her waist

The Minotaur - half man, half bull - is here depicted as bull up to the waist, man above the waist: most depictions are the other way round (bull head, mans body)

Frenchwoman 1720
The narrowness of her waist emphasises the prodigious width of the ball dress worn by this lady of the court of Louis XV : she wears gloves and carries a handbag

Noblewoman 1510
A bare-headed lady carries a little bag suspended at her waist

Playing Horses
Three little boys play horse, by putting a rope round two of their waist, while the other one drives

Costume / Flower Arranging
Lace jackets: one black the other white with pink ribbon trim. Green plaid dress: no waist seam, ornamented with black ribbon held in place by tiny bands

Gilrs Skipping in Park
Young girls wear pantalettes & dresses with decorated hemlines, gigot sleeves & bands at the waist. Two of the dresses have square collars

Red or White Dress 1838
Grey robe redingote: bishop sleeves with 3 rows of ruching. Round dress of blue & floral vertical stripes: half sleeves, single flounce, pointed waist, bow trimmings

Blue Gowns 1837
Hair: plaited & coiled over the ears. Dresses: off-the shoulder, long ribbons descending from the waist, single flounce at hem, sleeves consisting of 3 lace flounces

Grape-Trimmed Dress 1840
Dress adorned with bunches of grapes: with a lace falling tucker, pointed waist & short puffed sleeves. The skirt is pinned up on one side. Worn with a plumed tudor style hat

Musical Ladies 1851
Skirt with 5 flounces, black lace jacket & broad floating ribbon ends descending from the waist. Green redingote: bow trim, undersleeves with reversed vandyked cuffs

Tunic Dress / Worth 1924
Tunic dress by Worth in an ornate monochrome print with red detailing, plain central panel with motif, sash tied at the hips & a double skirt with a plain pleated flounce

USA Teen Fashion 1924
Selection of teenage fashions: tubular drop waist dresses or skirts & tunic style blouses in patterned prints with flounces, tiered skirts round collars & embroidery

Costume / Boy & Girl 1890S
Boy: knickerbocker suit, Eton collar, waistcoat, black stockings & lace-up boots. Girl: calf-length dress with high waist, tuck detail on the hem & broderie Anglaise collar

MENs COATS 1853
Three sobre looking French gentlemen in top hats, strapped trousers & double- breasted coats: one with a fur collar, one like a frock coat but without the waist seam

Costume / Green Coat 1830
Patterned Kashmir waistcoat, green cut-away coat buttoned at the neck & waist, the gap between open to reveal the shirt-front & waistcoat, strapped pantaloons & spurs

Fashion / Doucet 1924
Dresses & coats by Doucet: fur, handkerchief hemline, dentate border, chinese print, plaid, two-piece dresses, slash necklines, court shoes with bars, high stand collars

Striped Toilette ?1885
Costume in vertical striped fabric (see real swatch): pointed waist, deep V neck with falling lace collar, tunic hitched up at one side & trimmed with ribbon

Costume / Photo 1902
A young woman wears a plain gored skirt & a blouse trimmed with lace with an all-round collar of a sensible height. A V shaped belt emphasizes her small waist

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The waist, a timeless symbol of femininity and style, has evolved throughout history. From the gritty coal mines of South Wales to the glamorous flapper era, it has left its mark on fashion and society. In the depths of the coalface, miners toiled away with their waists cinched tightly in corsets. The year was 1927 when even a hardworking flapper couldn't resist adding a touch of glamour by adorning her bonnet with an exquisite waist-enhancing accessory. Fast forward to 1954, where two types of dresses showcased contrasting waistlines. One boasted a nipped-in waist that accentuated curves while another embraced a looser silhouette for comfort and freedom. Christian Dior himself sketched these designs as he revolutionized fashion post-World War II. Even during simpler times like 1907, women found ways to incorporate elegance into every aspect of life - including golfing. A stylish woman effortlessly swung her club while maintaining her impeccable posture and tiny waistline. Advertisements played their part too; Thomsons glove-fitting corset promised not only support but also an enviable hourglass figure. Women eagerly sought this undergarment's magical ability to sculpt their waists into perfection. However, not all depictions were so serious - WW1 brought about satirical cartoons such as "The Dropped Pilot. " Amongst the chaos, one thing remained constant: exaggerated feminine curves emphasized by impossibly small waists became fodder for entertainment. As time went on and societal norms shifted once again in 1948, David Wright captured a woman in an elegant black evening dress. Her slender waist gracefully complemented her attire as she exuded confidence and sophistication. Royalty too fell under the spell of this coveted feature; Queen Mary herself (then Princess of Wales) proudly displayed her regal poise alongside her impeccably defined waistline. Finally, Britannia graced magazine covers in April 1954, embodying the epitome of grace and strength.