Western women have almost always dressed fashionably when possible, (a) because

Western women have almost always dressed fashionably when possible, (a) because of higher sexual dimorphism and slightly lower sexual maturity, and greater feminine beauty because of it, (b) because we have had voluntary marriage for thousands of years, (c) because we delayed marriage for at least a thousand if not three thousand years, (d) because we view our women as ‘prizes’ and a demonstration of wealth. (e) because we have rarely had strong states and the strong can make such demonstrations and not fear them being taken by warlords (f) because women have had PROPERTY RIGHTS in the west for over a thousand years. And because (g) we have always had a higher respect for women than other civilizations – its pretty clearly a genetic bias, and we dont know why yet.

It’s not a mystery why cultures dress the way they do. It’s not simply fashion. It’s signaling. It always has been and always will be.