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Adults, as well as children have changed their perceptions of what the ideal body image is. Prior to the 1920's, the average woman was slightly round, a sign of healthiness and the ability for a mother to care for her family. In the 1920's a new standard developed for women, caused in part by the Flapper--the adventurous, daring, and sexy woman with thin physique. By the 1960's, Marilyn Monroe challenged the thin ideal. During this time, the average woman was a size fourteen; this trend was short lived as women believed thinness represented discipline, control, and health in the 1970's. Nigel, the memorable assistant to Miranda Kingsley in The Devil Wears Prada, thoroughly describes the transformation of body sizes when talking with the out-of-date, "fat", unbecoming journalist, Andy. She asks if anyone eats at their model obsessed magazine; he quotes, "Not since two is the new four and zero is the new two." Andy, innocently claims she is a size six, and Nigel plainly states, "Aha, the new fourteen." No other words adequately explain the transforming standards of dress or pant size for women. |