Beauty Icons of the 1930s - Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Marlene Dietrich



Greta Garbo



In America, the 1930s were marked by the economic crisis which led to the unemployment and financial ruin of many. In Europe, by fascism and Nazism. These were hard times, so you can imagine how more and more people turned towards the Cinema to momentarily escape reality.

Alas, the very young Jean Harlow enters the picture. She creates quite a stir as the very first Hollywood star to emerge with platinum blond hair.



Jean Harlow


Her admirers are delighted and attempt to copy her look to the peril of their own hair.
Her eyebrows are shaved and redrawn in a very fine semi-circular line that drags down at the end.
The eyes are enhanced by heavy false lashes and the lips completely redrawn in the shape of a heart and coloured in a very dark red.
The picture I've enclosed is black and white so you're going to have to take my word for it. ;)  (well mine, and wikipedia's anyway)

Jean Harlow - notice the shaved and redrawn eyebrows

Another very influential icon that emerges in this decade was Marlene Dietrich - her fans go as far as waxing their foreheads and pulling out their wisdom teeth to recreate the wide forehead and hollow cheeks of this beauty.

Marlene Dietrich



Marlene Dietrich


As you can see, this German beauty also had her eyebrows shaved and very thinly redrawn in the same semi-circular line. But what made Marlene Dietrich stand out, was the almost architectural facial bone structure that was unique to her.
These women were seductive, provocative, they became known as the FEMME FATALES.

I've also included a FANTASTIC Marlene Dietrich tutorial by Pixiwoo.
This look is important to know well because as Sam says in the video: "if you're a makeup artist, it will be referenced to you time and time again."

Isn't she incredibly talented? She never ceases to amaze me. Hence, having solely referenced her tutorials thus far.

Blog to you soon,

Sahar