Made Up For You

The sixties are probably remembered by many as the ‘hippy’ era. People were dressed in ethnic clothes and adorned their hair with flowers and ribbons. Those who didn’t went for the ‘all American girl next door look’ with hair usually back-combed and makeup kept simple. The emphasis was being on natural, healthy looks. More women were now ’going out’ to work and wanted easily achievable hairstyles which could be fixed with hairspray and stay in place all day. The younger age group started to wear makeup in very pale pinks and peach coloured pearlised lipsticks with matching nail varnish.

Then came supermodel ‘Twiggy’. Heavily lined eye sockets together with heavily contoured cheeks and huge, wide eye became every young woman’s yearned for makeup look. Mary Quant, probably the most famous fashion designer of the day, was on of the first to bring out a new makeup collection in trendy packaging which captured the new, young fashion market. Mary Quant cosmetics are still available today and instantly recognisable by the original Quant daisy logo which is still used.

With the contraints of war at an end women were returning from working on the land and in the factories to become ‘domestic goddesses’ at home. The trend was looking stylish and well-groomed with eyebrows becoming more defined, mascara and eyeliner becoming heavier and lips intensely coloured. This emphasised the pale complexions that were fashionable at the time. The introduction of TV meant that everyone was aware of glamour and fashion. All of a sudden there was an explosion of colour appearing in dress shops and makeup collections.

After World War II there was a shortage of cosmetics. Red lipstick was about the only item of makeup available during the war and therefore the eyes were natural looking with neatly brushed eyebrows and slightly darkened where possible. When the war ended there were fewer men so single women were keen to make themselves look as beautiful as possible to attract attention.

Makeup in the 1930′s was very much set by Hollywood as everyone wanted to look like their favourite stars. Long, feminine hairstyles made the whole look more ‘romantic’. Many famous makeup ‘houses’ from the 1930′s are still around today – Max Factor, Coty, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden. Max Factor Pan Cake was the first water-soluble cake foundation which was introduced in the 1930′s.

Things changed significantly in the 1920′s as people abandoned the puritanical standards of Victorian life and enjoyed a ‘free-spirited’ approach. Womens fashion changed to bobbed hairstyles, short dresses and makeup comprising of powder, rouge, eyeliner and red lipstick trying to look like ‘superstars’ of the big screen as theatre and cinema became popular.

In the early 1900′s, Victorian life was highly subdued and clothes were sombre. The preferred look was ‘healthy’, ‘neat’ and ‘hygienic’ and only a little rouge was ever worn. As nail polishes, foundations creams and new powders became available, this all began to change.