Roaring 20's

We’re set for a big return to old Hollywood vintage glamour in 2012 with a 1920's revival.

With the recent release of Midnight in Paris and the  upcoming release of The Great Gatsby and Madonna’s directorial debut of W.E, flapper glamour is making it’s way back onto the catwalk and into the pages of glossy magazines around the world.

Thanks to the popularity of shows like Boardwalk Empire, Downtown Abbey and Australia’s Underbelly: Razor a return in an interest of all things 1920’s is sweeping through designers collections and new trend looks.

The look was seen back at New York’s Fashion week last year at the Ralph Lauren collection, Dior’s Autumn 2011 collection was inspired by all things 1920’s & 30’s and Gucci's 1920s Art Deco–inspired collection wowed the audience. The spring 2012 runways heralded a 1920’s trend, and an “old Hollywood” look of retro waves is a perfect way to make the catwalk style wearable. For those not keen to cut their hair take the modern approach and gently pull back the hair and create the faux bob with the help of a couple of bobby pins and pin in a vintage styled clip or barrette.

Get the make up to match


To update a vintage make up, keep skin fresh and luminous.

Enter the vamp - Stars like Theda Bara, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks made paper-white skin, blood red lips and heavily made up eyes into the  must have look back in the day. There was lots of black and charcoal and aa big trend was the  Egyptian inspired, squared off cats eye. 

* Apply a semi - matte foundation for a porcelain and velvety finish rather than the original heavy and pasty stark white finish of the original cake foundations. During the early 20’s women favoured an ivory or cream coloured powder. Powder (usually rice powder) was vital to the Flapper look: skin looked white to the point of near-death; one author called it, "the pallor usually associated with innate vice".

 * Blend a pink blush in rose or rasberry tone onto the apples of the cheeks and sweep up towards the temples.

* Keep the eyes quite dark for a deep stained smudge. Edge the whole eye lid with a black liner and smudge into the skin to blur the edges. Apply a charcoal eye shadow close to the lash line and blend out with a fluffy brush.  Keep the eye clean, not  bruised looking. Green and turquoise was in fashion in the 20’s so to make eyes pop smudge in another colour or  dab silver metallic into the inner corner and blend well.

* Emphasize the eyes further by lining with eyeliner close to the lash line and apply several coats of mascara.

* Eyebrows were originally extremely thin. In a fad, women plucked out the entire eyebrow and pencilled it back on higher than it had been in the first place. To keep the look modern and fresh define your natural eyebrow shape by applying colour to the underside in a straight line for a  slightly curved or straighter  line. This keeps natural fullness but you also get the flatter, more masculine brow that was in.


Good news for those of you with a straighter brow. The straight brow is et to be another 2012 trend so do like Louise Brooks and define your natural shape and team with the 20's trend to look right on trend.

* Apply a deep red, plum or brownish red using a lip brush for a precise application. Plum, burgundy and all the colors of wine will add glamour to the season. Originally lipstick in the 20’s was applied as a cupids bow to the upper lip and is the defining look for lip make up of this decade. that pursed shape is essential. The lower lip was slightly exaggerated and the width of the lip emphasized.

* Want to follow the trend down to your finger tips? Fingernails were painted only in the centre. The half moon and nail tip were left bare or white.

                                                                   Marc Jacobs 2012

Dior 2012

The bobbed haircut made the 1920’s Flapper movement what it was. Again think Louise Brooks - The bob hairstyle was a blunt cut worn halfway between cheekbone and chin. Fringes could be worn cut straight across or swept to one side. Like the made up face, hair didn't look "natural"; it was slicked down. The most drastic version of the Flapper hairdo was the Eton crop, cut very short and close to the head, with a curl plastered tightly above either ear.

New Vintage

Vintage Glamour: Smoky Eye Tutorial

Vintage Glamour makes a return as a big trend for 2012. Breathtaking, dramatic and beautiful – Smokey Eyes really are a beauty classic, and will make your evening make-up a highlight! Use lighter shades to create a “tamer” effect that can also be worn by day.

Team with a velvety base and deep berry mouth for a current runway feel.

(1) Start by applying Eyeshadow Base.

(2) Use Magic Eye Liner to draw a thick line along the upper lash line and a thinner one along the lower one, and join the two together. Remember: don’t be too precise!

(3) Using the integrated applicator and short strokes, draw the line along the movable lid to the natural crease, and smudge under the lower lashes. This will help you to achieve an evenly blended effect.

(4) Use a brush to apply a light eyeshadow to the immovable eyelid – the area between the natural lid crease and the eyebrow.

(5) Choose a dark shade from the Eye Designer Collection and apply to the smudged lid liner.

(6) Use a lilac eyeshadow to create a smoky accent. Blend with a brush.

(7) Draw a purple line across the lid with Liquid Star Liner to add a touch of luxury.

(8) Apply Mascara Base to add volume to the lashes, then apply a generous amount of All in One Mascara, first to the lower lashes and then to the top.

Instant face lift!

Frame your eyes with a natural arched brow and you will instantly look 5 years younger!

The perfect frame for every face! Classically beautiful, shaped eyebrows complete your makes and emphasize your individual type.

Think strong, powerful brows with a classic shape with an arch towards the outer corners or if you have naturally straighter brows shape with a slight curve. This brings attention up as opposed to down. A clean, full brow makes the rest of your make up pop.

For the most flattering shape, your brows should reflect the angles of your cheekbones and jawline. Keep them straight up to the arch, then pluck a tapered line through to the tail.

Beware the over plucked  tadpole or clown like golden arches. These eye brow shapes will do exactly the opposite making you look 5 years older and the eye lid appears heavy and puffy. The skinny brow is very ageing and severe.

 To determine the inner edge the starting point should be in line with the inner corner of the eye and nose bridge. If the nose is wide you will need to bring the starting point a little closer inwards to bring the face into balance and make the width of the nose appear smaller.

The highest point of the arch should be in line with the outer edge of the iris.

The tail of the eye bow should finish in line with the angle from the tip of the mouth, along the outer corner of the eye and  towards the temple.

Brow Essentials: Shape and arch your brows like a professional. 

What you will need

* An eye brow pencil - To fill in any gaps, softly feather in the direction of the growth of the hair.

* An eye brow powder -  A matt powder one-two shades darker than your natural hair colour will give you a softer, more natural look than a pencil.

* An angle brush -  For a natural result, brush brow powder upwards into the hairs or to soften the intensity of  a brow pencil.

* An eye brow clear gel  - Comb a clear gel through the hairs for added definition and to emphasize the arch as well as to hold them in place.

* A highlighter -  Applied directly underneath the arch and blended this will show off your perfect natural arch to make these areas pop.

Pro tip: If you applied a little too heavy, use a lash brush or disposable mascara wand  to brush through the hair, This loosens block colour and easily softens the style.

ARTDECO Tutorial:

 In order to achieve your chosen shape, use a clean pair of tweezers to remove superfluous hairs, working in the direction of growth. The arched shape suits every face; 2/3 of it goes upwards in a fine arch (the highest point), and then 1/3 downwards.

(1) For perfect eye brow make up, use the Eye brow Colour Pen or 
Eye Brow Designer to color any thin eyebrow areas. Always work from bottom to top: from the beginning of the eyebrow to the arch, and then down to the tip.

(2) Fix your eyebrow make-up with  Clear Lash & Brow Gel.

(3) If your eyebrows are light, then we suggest to use Eyebrow Powder. The best way to apply it is with an Eyebrow Template.