Love + Sex

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Life before breast implants: What naked girls used to look like

sportsillustratedcover94.jpg
In my house, my hippie mother felt that it was more natural for me to see movies with naked people making love (that's the term 8 out of 10 hippie mothers preferred) than movies where people were trying to kill each other. As it was, I was totally accustomed to seeing breasts on our early '80s cable channels, nipples of various sizes bouncing around across our 19-inch screen, and I knew that men liked to look at boobs and hips and butts and the dark thickets in a girl's "area" but it wasn't until we had a rummage sale one summer afternoon and her live-in boyfriend Larry pulled out a moldering box of vintage Playboys that I really understood. It wasn't just looking at naked boobs on the television. It was somehow more private than that. Sure, this naked girl might have been replicated in 500,000 copies, but somehow, at that moment, it was just her and the viewer. These pages, slick as beetle skins, the eyes wearing impossible amounts of mascara, looking up at the viewer, imploring somehow, begging to be looked at. That's when I really got a sense of how powerful a girl's body could be when displayed on the glossy pages of a magazine.

Erin over at Product Fiend recently talked about Sports Illustrated's cover vault, specifically the vintage Swimsuit Edition covers. I've never really seen the point of the Swimsuit Edition, even though I know that it makes people drool like crazy. I mean, there's nothing SPORTY about staring at women in swimsuits, and if you want to see the bush, there are magazines dedicated to that purpose. And at least the Victoria's Secret catalog was free. So I took another look and...wow.

If you want to have your eyes opened on the changing dimensions of the average SI Swimsuit Edition cover model, simply compare 2008's Marissa Miller to 1971's Tannia Rubiano or 1967's Lynn Tyndall. Seriously, you need to click on those links. I don't know about you but I miss seeing covers that celebrate women with amazing breasts like these. I need to be reminded that at one time, girls with big boobs had hips to match (image NSFW) and it was all good. Perspective, is what I think I'm getting here. And I have stupid Sports Illustrated to thank for it, except I'll probably never admit that anywhere else.

Related Links from Elastic Waist and SELF:

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From the Community…

Comments 11-20 of 59
  • Massa09's Avatar
    Posted by Massa09 Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:39pm PDT

    Captivating Allure....Please post picture....

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  • Adrienne's Avatar
    Posted by Adrienne Fri Jul 4, 2008 7:39am PDT

    Nice! I am going to print a copy of this SI cover and post it in my bathroom next to the shower. Just as a reminder that my body looks good enough for the cover of a magazine! To often I stand in front of the mirror waiting for the water to get hot criticizing all my natural creases and curves. Big mental overhaul! Thanks for the wake up call.

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  • weet's Avatar
    Posted by weet Fri Jul 4, 2008 9:06am PDT

    Gyrlie and Captivating Allure, one of those links was to an SI cover showing a girl who is naturally slim. There's no slack to cut, I think you should be happy with who you are and not worry about society. I'm sorry that you feel that skinny women are portrayed as the "evil" ones or make you feel like you should be ashamed of yourself. It shouldn't be that way. People suck.

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  • rosevelt's Avatar
    Posted by rosevelt Fri Jul 4, 2008 9:25am PDT

    even though i wear size 38 i need a more bigger breast

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  • Mmgirl's Avatar
    Posted by Mmgirl Fri Jul 4, 2008 12:31pm PDT

    These women with real bodies are beautiful. And to the implant girls why do they make you feel good about yourself? Oh maybe because society has told you that this is what attracts men. Well sorry to tell you honey but your boobs will never get you a beautiful lasting relationships. Just a few free drinks and dinners is pretty much all those girls will get for you. I have found no matter how you look personality is key. Be proud of what God gave you. Natural bodies are way more alluring then the under the knife ones or the digitally altered one. Ask a guy...they are the ones who have told me this.

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  • Sam's Avatar
    Posted by Sam Fri Jul 4, 2008 1:52pm PDT

    as i male, i know 95% of us love women with good size breast, size really does matter!!

    implant is a solution and should be considered if needed!

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  • Girlie8787's Avatar
    Posted by Girlie8787 Fri Jul 4, 2008 1:55pm PDT

    Celebrate the women with curves! And the naturally skinny ones! Everyone is lovely in their own way. I do not condone eating wrong, if it be overeating or undereating. I'm trying to lose a few pounds myself, because I did get into unhealthy eating habits a year or so ago, and have the extra pounds to prove it. But I think everyone is beautiful. Big boobs, small boobs, hips or no hips.

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  • Renae's Avatar
    Posted by Renae Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:23pm PDT

    What is wrong with being 100% all natural woman???

    So,I guess that means men don't go for women who are themselves???

    They want women who are plastic and barbie-doll like???

    Now I have fake breasted women to compete with!!!!

    That is all men want is fake???

    So, I guess being myself is not enough for a man anymore???

    SO SHALLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

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  • Aurora's Avatar
    Posted by Aurora Fri Jul 4, 2008 7:14pm PDT

    men who want fake girls wonder why they can't have real relationships. however there are still some good men out there that like real women. And by the way, why is it ok to comment to a smaller framed person how "skinny" she is, or ask how she got that way and say things like, "she needs to eat", but its then considered rude to comment on a bigger framed person or ask them how they go that way?

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  • Angela's Avatar
    Posted by Angela Fri Jul 4, 2008 10:42pm PDT

    I agree with you Renae.

    I am naturally a B and I couldn't be happier. I used to want implants, but not anymore. If a guy only likes a woman for her breasts and not for what she is on the inside, thats pretty sad. It's like us women saying we'll only like guys who have penises 7 inches or bigger......

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Comments 11-20 of 59

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