The Roaring 20s

The 1920s are also known as the “Roaring 20’s” “Flapper Ages” and “Jazz Age” which is clearly depicted in their fashion and make up!

Seeing the end of the First World War art and creativeness became alive. This showed itself in the fashion of the era with new and colourful fabric and materials beginning to surface, as well as women becoming experimental with makeup that had never been so readily available. The 20’s also saw the Harlem Renaissance; women had the right to vote and middle class affluence was very much on the rise.

Fashion

The 1920s seemed to liberate women with the flamboyant and revealing style of dress that became popular in this era. Hemlines began to get higher and by 1927 the Flapper style was very much in fashion seeing hemlines that came above the knee.

Coco Chanel was perhaps one of the most influential women of the 1920s when her reputation as a fashion designer was made. Chanel defined her style as being elegant, luxurious and simple.  In fashion terms her signature style helped to emancipate and free the outlook on female fashion.

Hair and makeup

As with fashion the women of the 1920s were free to be experimental and break the mould of how women were previously perceived. With this came the development of the bob hair cut. The 1920s bob was cut bluntly and worn halfway between the cheekbone and the chin. The fringe was either cut short and straight across or swept to the side. Another hairstyle was The Shingle. The hair was cut into a V at the nape of the neck revealing the neck and was accompanied by finger waves or spit curls. Just like the makeup that you would see in the 20s the hair was never natural, it was always slicked down and glistening with brilliantine.

Makeup was a key thing for the women of the 1920s. Skin was always paper white, lips were blood red and the eyes were always very heavily made up. Powder was an essential; it was usually made from rice powder, and was intended to make the skin appear white and flawless. Makeup was in its rawest form still in the 1920s. Mascara was referred to as “spit block” it came in a wax or cake form that was mixed with water and applied to lashes with a small brush or a wood stick. The women would completely pluck their eyebrows and use kohl to draw in thin black lines in their place. Kohl was made up of things such as lead, soot and goose grease. It was always applied heavily all around the eyes and appeared stained and smudged for a sexy smouldering look.

A 1920s woman’s lipstick was always a deep blood red, because this was the only colour available. And, as with everything else they were dramatic! Over accentuating the cupids bow was a must and the lipstick was always smudge proof.

Unlike any era previous to the 1920s women were not ashamed of makeup and definitely felt no need hide it. Most women would be seen applying their lipstick and powder at the dinner table. Once again showing the 1920s was truly the era that began to free a woman’s sexuality. 

Clara Bow

Louise Brooks

Marion Davies

Vintage Love

I think everyone that knows me will be able to tell you that I am in love with all things vintage! Maybe it’s the romantic in me but I often find a yearning for a simpler time and am often told I was born in the wrong era. The thing I love most about the vintage is the women, from the roaring 20’s to the swinging 60’s. These days I feel that to be viewed as a “sexy” or “attractive” you have to have in your face sex-appeal. Undoubtedly there are some beautiful women these day but none match up to the glamour or beauty of the likes of Marlene Dietrich or Rita Hayworth.

The following blogs will look at the 1920’s – 1960’s in regards to female fashion and the development of the makeup that the women wore. I hope that with these blogs I might inspire some of you out there to recapture some of that good old fashioned vintage glamour! 

Pin-Up Girl

Pin-Up Girl

Pin-Up girls are all about old fashioned vintage glamour. It’s a really easy look to achieve and too wear. It’s one of my all time favourite looks and I can be seen wearing it all year round. Here’s how you can do it.....

What you need...

·         Matte Foundation

·         Concealer

·         Creamy-coloured eye shadow

·         Light caramel eye shadow

·         Dark brown shadow or eye brow pencil

·         Black liner (gel or liquid)

·         Black Mascara

·         False eyelashes (optional)

·         Matte Red Lipstick

·         Bronzer

·         Loose powder

What I used....

·         Nars Sheer Matte Foundation in Siberia

·         Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory

·         Sleek MakeUp iDivine Palette in Oh So Special

·         Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black Ink

·         Bourjois Volumizer Mascara in Black

·         Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo

·         E.L.F Bronzer

·         Mac Select Sheer Loose Powder in NW5

There are four key parts to the pin-up look; flawless complexion, bold brows, the “flick” and sexy red lips.

To create the flawless skin you need to use a matte foundation. You are best using a foundation brush to apply the foundation. Apply all over your face; don’t forget your lips and eyelids.

The using a concealer brush apply concealer under your eyes to hide any dark circles and over any blemishes or discolouring. I always apply around my nose because I get a little bit of discolouration around that area.

Now moving on to the brows. You want your brows to be thick, blunt and angular at the start of the brows. Your brows should stay the same width until just after half way and they should taper off to a thin point. Make sure that the join of the thick and thin part of the brow has a reasonably sharp angle. You can create this using a dark shadow and an angled brush or a pencil. You better of drawing the outline you want to follow first then fill the brows in.

The eye shadow is simple; apply a cream coloured eyeshadow all over the lip right up to the brow bone. Then with a blending brush take a slightly darker colour and take it very lightly through the socket for slight definition.

Next it is time for the flick. Start at the inner corner of the eye and apply a thin line along your lash line about 2/3s of the way across. The plot in the flick and come back on yourself to join the line. (This is how I do it, if you have a way that suites you better please do that.

Next apply plenty of mascara to your top and bottom lashes. Don’t forget if you wiggle your brush on the way up on the top lashes they will look thicker. You can also apply false lashes at this point if you wish.

Lips. Very, very simple. Just take your red lipstick and apply. See simple.

Using an angle blush brush apply your bronzer at the back and just under your cheek bone. The reason we use the bronzer is to contour and add shape to your face. You need to make sure that it is blended very well or it will look like you just have two random stripes.

Finally apply loose powder to set your make-up.

Hope you enjoy and try for yourself!