Tag Archives: glamour

A Note on Posture

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I believe that good posture is something that should be practiced by everyone, but especially by those who wear vintage.  Prior to and throughout the mid-20th century, good posture was greatly encouraged, and many young women participated in manners classes, where good posture was a staple of the the coursework.  A proper lady did not slouch.  Since this was heavily unforced, both by society and undergarments (just think about corsets and girdles), fashion was built around proper posture, thus it is beneficial to yourself and your clothing to practice good posture.

This page comes from Ern and Bud Westmore’s 1947 book Beauty, Glamour and Personality.

Vintage Beauty: Hairstyling

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Ready for some more vintage beauty tips from Hollywood’s Ern and Bud Westmore?  Last time we covered face shapes, and today we’re covering hairstyles to compliment your face shape.

  

  

There is a lot of great 1940s hair inspiration here too, along with some tips to compliment your facial structure.

I know doing vintage hair can be complicated and frustrating, but nothing perfects like practice, practice, practice.  YouTube is a great resource for video tutorials, just search for “vintage hair”.  Additionally, there are many books on the subject including the hair volume of the Style Me Vintage series (my personal recommendation) as well as Vintage Hairstyling, which I know many gals who have enjoyed this book, I however did not have much luck with it.  But nothing can replace a personal interaction with a person who knows their stuff.  Portlanders have the luxury of having the amazing Kristen Behlings as a resource who frequently does hair workshops.  She has done my own hair for several fashion shows, and I have attended two of her workshops, the most recent last March.  Also, don’t be afraid to ask if you see someone who has their hair done up or even at a vintage clothing shop, they may know some tips or know someone who does.

Eye make-up next time!

Vintage Beauty: Face Shapes

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Earlier I blogged about this fab 1947 beauty book I picked up.  I mentioned I would be sharing some of book’s tips and tricks, so are you ready for the first entry into the world of vintage beauty?

The following pages from Erin & Bud Westmore’s book Beauty, Glamour and Personality offer up images of the five face shapes, which include oval, round, square, oblong and triangular, followed by dos and don’ts for each! The last pages in this entry regard the use of rouge.  Click the images for larger, readable pictures.

 

  

  

  

So, what’s your face shape?

Next up, dos and don’ts regarding hair!

Vintage Beauty: Introduction

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Awhile ago, I picked up this book at Powell’s downtown…

The cover grabbed my attention right away, and flipping through its pages provided both quality tips, as well as a few giggles.  The book was written by Ern and Bud Westmore, of the famous Westmore film make-up artists.  Their father, George Westmore, founded the first film make-up department in Hollywood in 1917.  His sons worked with the likes of Rudolph Valentino, and went on to work on such classics as Gone with the Wind, the 1931 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Universal’s Creature of the Black Lagoon.  The family has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well.

Beauty, Glamour, and Personality, written in 1947, reveals some of old Hollywood’s tips and tricks for creating that glamorous film star look.  Ern and Bud dedicated the book to their father, claiming it was he who was “the first to lay down the fundamental principles governing the application of make-up as a means of dramatizing the personality and enhancing a woman’s charm.”

I won’t be sharing each and every page with you, but a highlighted selection.  The first few pages include stories of how the brothers transformed everyday ladies into looking more glamorous and then there are a few pages that are simply far too outdated to be helpful.

Each entry will focus on something different…Face shapes, and their do’s and don’ts, including make-up and hair styles, eye make-up, “make-up for that nose”, lip make-up, skin tones, correct way of applying make-up, hands as a part of glamour, exercises, posture, and fashion tips.

Stay tuned!