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 credits: PostMan
#2 Japan Female-warrior
#3 Gypsy Girl With Mandolin
Image credits: PostMan
#4 Anna May Wong Was The First Chinese American Movie Star, And The First Asian American Actress To Gain International Recognition
Image credits: PostMan
#5 Young Algerian Girls
Image credits: PostMan
#6 Lily Elsie, English Actress And Singer
Image credits: PostMan
#7 Berberian Girl
Image credits: PostMan
#8 Anna Pavlovna Was A Russian Prima Ballerina
Image credits: PostMan
#9 Rita Martin
Image credits: PostMan
#10 Nepaly Lady
Image credits: PostMan
#11 Unknown Young Lady In Traditional Dress
Image credits: PostMan
#12 Queen Mary Of Romania
#13 Unknown Japanese Woman With Umbrella
Image credits: PostMan
#14 Gabrielle Ray Was An English Stage Actress, Dancer And Singer
Image credits: PostMan
#15 Sisters From The Philippines In The 20's.
#16 Unknown Japanese Lady With Long Hair
Image credits: PostMan
#17 Carolina “la Belle” Otéro Was A Spanish-born Dancer, Actress And Courtesan
Image credits: PostMan
#18 Young Vietnamese Woman With Sword
Image credits: PostMan
#19 Miss Valli Valli
Image credits: PostMan
#20 Unknown Tonkin Lady With Big Hat
Image credits: PostMan
#21 Princess Viktoria Luise Von Preußen
Image credits: PostMan
#22 Tamil Girl
Image credits: PostMan
#23 Unknown Gypsy Girl
Image credits: PostMan
#24 Unknown Japanese Woman With Umbrella
Image credits: PostMan
#25 Two Pretty Young Ladies
Image credits: PostMan
#26 Beautiful Geisha
Image credits: PostMan
#27 Unknown Lady With Big Hat
Image credits: PostMan
#28 Margaretha Geertruida Macleod Better Known By The Stage Name Mata Hari
Image credits: PostMan
#29 Vesta Tilley Was A Star Of The English Music Hall Circuit For More Than Four Decades
Image credits: PostMan
#30 Two Unknown Young Ladies
Image credits: PostMan
#31 Algerian Dancer
Image credits: PostMan
#32 Unknown Lady In Nice Dress
Image credits: PostMan
#33 Unknown Lady With Big Hat And Umbrella
Image credits: PostMan
#34 Matilda Alice Powles, An English Music Hall Performer
Image credits: PostMan
#35 Russian Opera Singer Makarova
Image credits: PostMan
#36 Young Japanese Lady
Image credits: PostMan
#37 Burmese Dancing Girl
Image credits: PostMan
#38 Georgette Delmare
Image credits: PostMan
#39 Tamil Girl From Ceylon
Image credits: PostMan
