In the golden age of Hollywood, a fully realized fantasy was practically a prerequisite for dazzle on the big screen.
In order not to miss any insignificant detail, the studio meticulously commissions decorated sets, ecstatic original musical scores, theatrical custom costumes, and holiday beauty lovers endless soigné hairstyles and glamorous makeup looks. With the holidays fast approaching, there’s no better time to turn up the wattage from the neck up, and what better time to binge on the classics with sparkling, sparkling, unapologetic vanity divas ?
In short: there were peacocks, and then there were peacocks persuaded by Elizabeth Taylor. In Doctor Faust in 1963, the violet-eyed actress may make a silent cameo as Helen of Troy, but believe , her cropped cat-eye eyeliner, mother-of-pearl hair accessory, and glittery updo did all the talking. In the Ziegfeld Girl of , Hedy Lamarr showcases a similar (if not competing) talent for iridescence, wearing a celestial crystal star Tiara, and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s at 1954 Brought the fabled girl – Holly Golightly about town loves elegant French twists, platinum stripes and tiny diamond tiaras.
1975 The Pink Panther, costume designer Yves Saint Laurent for Italy- Tunisian beauty Claudia Cardinale styled the shaggy crow bouffant with large, symmetrical jeweled gold hair accessories, with forehead pearl detail, or for 1975 )Mahogany, in which Diana Ross plays rising fashion designer Tracy Chambers, takes scalloped bangs and brushed curls to new heights.
Ann-Margret and Brigitte Bardot have also long used this scheme, b in The Swinger and A Woman Like Satan teased to maximum ombshell length – but short hair gets its big screen too: in Cabaret Liza Minnelli’s widow pointy bob accentuates her stage makeup, while in Chinatown
, Faye Dunaway’s jaw-sweeping The dirty blonde lengths were made even more chic with a fishnet veil hat tied on top. In other words, well-honed crops were as cool then as they are now.
Finally, sirens on screen prove there is nothing quite as stunning as bright red lips. During Singin’ in the Rain’s dreamy dance sequence, the only thing that distracts moviegoers is Cyd Charisse’s endless, muscular legs (which, according to reports, Insured for $5 million) MGM) is the fiery red lipstick on her pillowy pout. Also, in Carmen Jones in 1954, Dorothy Dandridge becomes the first black woman to win the best Oscar For the Lead Actress nominations, the trailblazing actor topped her scarlet lips with a fresh rose nestled behind her ear.
