Old Hollywood glamour. What did Hollywood stars wear? Follow the style trends set by leading actresses in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s and 1950’s
By 1930 the dominance of Paris designers was challenged by the Hollywood costume designer. In our archives, we look at the trend setting dresses and hairstyles worn by the most glamorous women in the world.
Actresses like Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, and Joan Crawford all wore gowns which had women drooling in the cinema aisles. Costume designers such as Travis Banton and Gilbert Adrian helped create what would be called the American look.
On the silver screen, and later in Technicolor, women appeared flawless. Their dresses were divine, their hairstyles and makeup immaculate thanks to beauty gurus like Max Factor. It was a fairy tale land of beauty, and the world was transfixed.
To get you started here are just two examples of Hollywood’s impact on style. In 1927 Clara Bow helped propel the little black dress or LBD into every fashionable wardrobe across the world. It’s debut appearance in the smash hit “It (1927) was nothing short of revolutionary.
Later Vivien Leigh’s civil war hair snood worn in Gone with the Wind became a staple hair accessory during the early years of the WW2 in the 1940’s.
Dive in to our old Hollywood glamour posts and see for yourself what women were reading and what fashion trends they followed.
“Necking for beauty’s sake!” says Jean Arthur in 1932 – Actress Jean Arthur shows us a movie star beauty trick for a pretty neck. First, lie on a divan, allowing the head and shoulders to droop over the edge. Second, turn the head from left to right fifteen times. Third, raise the head from the shoulders …
Top Costume Designers fall style 1938- by Gwenn Walters 1. Contrast costumes are headline news in Hollywood’s fall fashion picture. Barbara Stanwyck wears one of olive green and brown created by Royer. The jacket covers a short-sleeved, collarless frock that closes to the waist with large self covered buttons. A gold tassel chain loops through …
Gamine or Robe de Style Evening dresses – Margaret Livingston is truly a city girl. Someone whose personality reflects the shimmering lure of silk, the subtle enticement of style. Dress1. The ever changing modes of fashion have glorified many types of figure over the years, but this year – the short skirt ( left) the …
By 1920s beauty artist Violet Dare – The appropriately named “Miss Dare” dishes out makeup advice to flappers “make-up moods” and “occasion make-up”and “Make-up to Hollywood types”. Remember that most womens faces are their own fault ! They want to be beautiful, yet they so often allow themselves to be limited by what they think they …
Aileen Pringle’s Mannish Bob in 1925 Who would have thought, when bobbed hair first came into vogue, that there would be so many variations of it? The mere conventional 1920’s bob was thought dreadfully extreme. One of the more iconic 1920’s hairstyles was the Shingle worn by Aileen Pringle in 1925. The Dutch boy haircut, which …
The Woman Maketh the clothes in 1932- “Be nonchalant.” That’s the fashion creed of fast rising Hollywood starlet Karen Morley. In other words, Karen chooses her clothes with one effect in mind, a ‘careful’ carelessness. If you think that’s easy to do, you’re all wrong. It’s just as difficult, it requires exactly as much thought and …
Fundamentals beauty hints – 1929 1920s Makeup report by Anne Van Alstyne Not so long ago I talked to a Director of motion pictures. He a lot to say about beauty. ” A pretty face is just – a pretty face, ” he said “It gets by, but it doesn’t get far. if there’s not …
Hollywood bathing suits and pyjamas 1930 – The newest in backless and sideless bathing suits demonstrated by Hollywood’s loveliest ladies. Above left Virginia Bruce wears a suit of red and white – the perfect eye catcher for the California sun. Stripes will be worn with plain trunks as also indicated by the new bathing suit …
A peek at Hollywood’s favorite swimwear Some of Hollywood’s brightest actresses model the latest in 1930’s Hollywood bathing suits. Including Bette Davis, Joan Blondell and Loretta Young. First up is Joan Blondell and the up and coming Bette Davis who both appear in this years Three On a Match. Here Joan sports a play-suit, and …
The Famous star poses in the new modes of 1930 – Photographed for Glamourdaze by Russell Ball. Gloria Swanson demonstrates the newest and smartest in 1930 dinner dress fashion. The gown is nude satin, in which both sides of the material are used. A circular cape collar falls over one shoulder to form a fetching train. …