Who is Your Beauty Muse?

[jazzzbaby]

Because vintage beauty is all about the past I know I have drawn
great inspiration from many beauties over the years. I was thinking
about the ones who inspired me in the very beginning, and how over
time it has shifted & changed.

I think Marilyn Monroe was big for me in my teens, then Edie Sedgwick (60s) in my early twenties, later twenties was Louise Brooks, then Bettie Page...and now I have a more current muse in Dita Von Teese (her book has helped me so much in just seeing clearly how makeup & hair needs to be styled)
With her style of beauty comes Ava Gardner & Elizabeth Taylor.

Who have you drawn inspiration from to create your vintage beauty?

[Viola]

Lauren Bacall and Veronica Lake would be the big ones, I think.

Viola

[mysterygal]

At first it was Audrey Hepburn (though I still absolutely love her), but seeing Rita Hayworth, I was blown away at how beautiful this lady was....she has the great combination of sexy and down to earth.....I've been having a great time studying up on how she did her make-up and her sense of style.

[CanadaDoll]

Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and oddly enough Liz Taylor.

They were/are all soo beautiful.

[Miss Dottie]

[QUOTE=jazzzbaby] now I have a more current muse in Dita Von Teese (her book has helped me so much in just seeing clearly how makeup & hair needs to be styled)
With her style of beauty comes Ava Gardner & Elizabeth Taylor.
QUOTE]

Forgive the :offtopic: but what book is this that you speak of Jazzbaby re: Dita Von Teese?

[jazzzbaby]

[QUOTE=jazzzbaby] now I have a more current muse in Dita Von Teese (her book has helped me so much in just seeing clearly how makeup & hair needs to be styled)
With her style of beauty comes Ava Gardner & Elizabeth Taylor.
QUOTE]

Forgive the :offtopic: but what book is this that you speak of Jazzbaby re: Dita Von Teese?

Hi Miss Dottie ~ The book is called "Burlesque & the Art of the Teese"
It should be on amazon for a preview...I really love the photos in it.
One half of the book is the history of burlesque with some great pics, and the other half (when turned over) is more fetish style ... not my cup of tea, however... an interesting read nonetheless.

[BettyValentine]

I like bold women who push the rules, break them, and have very distinct styles. I like Schiaparelli, Josephine Baker, Gala Dali, Katherine Hepburn, and Lucy.

My own style always winds up more glam than avant garde. (It feels like hte safest option to me, unfortunately.) I look mostly like Lucy, Veronica Lake, Madeline Vionnet, etc. Which isn't bad, but I really need a skirt of bananas and the confidence to wear it!

[Daisy Buchanan]

This is a tough question, for me it really depends on the day.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have adored Audrey Hepburn. She has elegance and grace, and really knew how to put it all together. I remember sitting with my late Grampa Itsy, watching "Breakfast at Tiffanies" for the very first time, I must have been 6 or 7, and asking him all about her. From then on, I wanted to be just like her.
As I got more and more into classic film, I really started to love Ava Gardner, Katherine Hepburn, Lauren Becall, and Grace Kelly. Depending on the day I take style queues from all of these women. I wish today's movie stars, which can only be called that because they star in movies, could act like the starlettes of yester-year. They had so much style, grace and elegance. IMO, today's stars are trashy. They wear things for shock value. The thought of wearing something to be elegant and beautiful while still covering the majority of ones body is long gone.
So, I take my style ideas from these lovely ladies of years gone by. It'd be great if there was a revival of the elegance and class of that era.

[jazzzbaby]

Oh! I must add...you dear ladies have inspired me in a big way this year also.
So I humbly thank you for pushing my idea of being more glamourous ~ into a bit more of a reality than it might have been! I find each of you very glamourous & unique!

You too are muses ~ xoxo

[pigeon toe]

My first vintage beauty muse was definitely Bettie Page. Her images were what opened me up to vintage in the first place. The I just started saving images on my computer of various vintage ladies, Theda Bara, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe (of course), including lots of amateur models or regular women.

Now I would say that Dita Von Teese is definitely my muse, just because she is a modern woman living with vintage style 24/7. She also just oozes this sexuality that is inherent in vintage glamour. I know a lot of ladies try to separate that sexuality from what they wear (like stockings), but I savor it! ;)

[pigeon toe]

Oh! I must add...you dear ladies have inspired me in a big way this year also.
So I humbly thank you for pushing my idea of being more glamourous ~ into a bit more of a reality than it might have been! I find each of you very glamourous & unique!

You too are muses ~ xoxo

I definitely second that!

[AirborneSally]

Oh, my Muse is Vera Ellen! She is amazing, not in to many movies but I just love her. She was in White Christmas with Bing, Rosemarry, and Danny Kaye. Anyone else know who she is?

[Naama]

I would say my muses are Greta Garbo, Louise Brooks, Bette Davis and Alla Nazimova. I mainly try to re-create the look of Greta Garbo and Bette Davis, though my new "nickname" is Eva Braun........................ :mad: (only because of my look!!!!)

Naama

[RetroModelSari]

I would say my muses are Greta Garbo, Louise Brooks, Bette Davis and Alla Nazimova. I mainly try to re-create the look of Greta Garbo and Bette Davis, though my new "nickname" is Eva Braun........................ :mad: (only because of my look!!!!)

Naama

Don´t worry about such a nickname... I think it is sort of thoughtless if someone calls you like that!

[lindylady]

Oh, my Muse is Vera Ellen! She is amazing, not in to many movies but I just love her. She was in White Christmas with Bing, Rosemarry, and Danny Kaye. Anyone else know who she is?

Vera Ellen was a talented actress and a wonderful dancer. Did you see her in Anchors Aweigh, with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra? She was Miss Turnstile, I believe. Her name in the film was Ivy.

[Grantgirl]

Oh my gosh, Miss Turnstyles- what a hoot, was that "On the town?", I think I watched that the other day. I could be wrong though. Three girls and three guys out in NY?

Ginger Rogers- especially in Top Hat
Janet Leigh- Loved her look in Holiday Affiar
Lauren Bacall- To Have and Have Not

[JazzBaby]

Great thread! Grace Kelly definitely - so classy and elegant, and her clothes and hairstyle in Rear Window are the best! Gotta love Marilyn of course, and Debbie Reynolds. Tend to be more inspired by the blondes, being a blonde myself. Saying that, Joan Collins was very beautiful in her day.


And Betty Boop of course!!!:D

[katiemakeup]

My muses not only reflect their outward beauty but different aspects to them: temperment, personality, style, power etc...all which reflect outward beauty. I love a good femme fatale and someone who could give it right back. No ingenues lol I usually am drawn to dark haired muses, only because I was born with black hair, brown eyes so I identified with them.

As far as classic/famous women, I love Joan Crawford (1930's) & Ava Gardner, Louise Brooks' personality. You could not get any more sparkling than Ginger Rogers or Betty Grable who were both so luminous! Of course like a few of you, Dita. I think with her it's more of a whole package rather than her parts. I also take inspiration from other regular women! The beauty part is really a hodgepodge of different years suited for my look & personality. I usually tend to lean towards the severe... black, crimson, striking etc.

[AirborneSally]

Vera Ellen was a talented actress and a wonderful dancer. Did you see her in Anchors Aweigh, with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra? She was Miss Turnstile, I believe. Her name in the film was Ivy.


Oh yeah, I have seen all her stuff. I just adore her!

[JazzBaby]

[QUOTE=Miss Dottie]

Hi Miss Dottie ~ The book is called "Burlesque & the Art of the Teese"
It should be on amazon for a preview...I really love the photos in it.
One half of the book is the history of burlesque with some great pics, and the other half (when turned over) is more fetish style ... not my cup of tea, however... an interesting read nonetheless.

I have this book too and I love it - not so much the fetish side (although some of the hats in this section are nice!) but the burlesque side has the most gorgeous pics. Loads of corsets, and feathers and such. I especially like the bit where she says she advocates glamour all the time. Unfortunatly it's rather difficult for the non burlesque queen to adhere to this all the time...:(

[katiemakeup]

Oh, my Muse is Vera Ellen! She is amazing, not in to many movies but I just love her. She was in White Christmas with Bing, Rosemarry, and Danny Kaye. Anyone else know who she is?
:offtopic:
...but evertime I watched White Christmas, I always thought she was so teeny tiny!!

[melankomas]

this will seem a bit odd, perhaps, but Marlene Dietrich and Cab Calloway. you could ask, but i doubt i'd be able to explain satisfactorily. i also suspect "satisfactorily" of not being a real word, but i'm too lazy to consult a dictionary at the moment.

[Grantgirl]

I did not like Vera Ellen's short skirts in White Christmas. I thought she had the most spindly little legs I had ever seen. I thought she looked awkward but then when I saw her in On the town she had a much better look. Younger days I guess...

I love Lana Turner & Greer Garson also..

On another note, I am reading this book that is an absolute HOOT. Has anyone read Eleanore King's Guide to Glamor? LOVE IT- it is so vintage-y and weird but yet some things in it still apply. I'm loving the section on holding your head straight hahaha lol

[fortworthgal]

I'd have to go with Rita Hayworth, or perhaps Barbara Stanwyck.


I did not like Vera Ellen's short skirts in White Christmas. I thought she had the most spindly little legs I had ever seen. I thought she looked awkward but then when I saw her in On the town she had a much better look. Younger days I guess...

She was suffering from anorexia at the time White Christmas was made. Notice how during the entire movie, she only wears high-necked garments? Even her PJs have a high collar! That was done to hide her neck, which looked unsightly from years of battling anorexia. That's why her legs were so thin, and she looked so tiny.

[Rosa Moline]

For me it would be Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis. Bette wasn't a conventional beauty, but she definitely had style. Jane Russell was another beauty. I look to other brunettes for inspiration!

[K.D. Lightner]

There were a number of actresses I admired when I was a teenager, mostly light-weight actresses. Kim Novak, Doris Day, etc, though was intrigued when I was a kid by all the sexy redheads out there, especially Rita Hayworth. She was out of my league, though.

But by the time I was 18, it was the incomparable Ingrid Bergman -- and I stuck with her until she died. Now, I like her daughter, Isabella Rosselini, who looks so much like her mother and yet doesn't.

I have always loved Audrey Hepburn, too, but, again, she was out of my league. Too slender, too elegant for me to emulate, onstage or off.

karol

[AirborneSally]

I'd have to go with Rita Hayworth, or perhaps Barbara Stanwyck.



She was suffering from anorexia at the time White Christmas was made. Notice how during the entire movie, she only wears high-necked garments? Even her PJs have a high collar! That was done to hide her neck, which looked unsightly from years of battling anorexia. That's why her legs were so thin, and she looked so tiny.


I knew she had a problem with anorexia but I didnt know it was in that movie...i guess that explains lots tho. I always thought she looked JUST like a barbie in White Christmas.

[IlsaLund]

Audrey Hepburn, Princess Grace.

[GOK]

I'm not sure I have any muses - I certainly don't try to emulate anyone - I have only ever wanted to be me. However, as Katiemakeup has said; strong, striking, dark haired women are my shtick, and I am definitely another black & crimson kind of woman. Or should that be scarlet?!! :p

On the subject of Dita's book - I love the fetish side of it. The burlesque is really sweet but the f-part is stunningly beautiful IMO.

[~landgirl~]

On the subject of Dita's book - I love the fetish side of it. The burlesque is really sweet but the f-part is stunningly beautiful IMO.

I was very apprehensive on reading 'the other side' but so glad I did, it really opened my eyes and appreciate Fetishism, even though I may not be that way inclined - apart from the stockings and girdles! Great Book!

[Grantgirl]

Oh wow, no I had no idea about the anorexia, that explains the drastic change in her look. now I feel bad- erase, erase, erase LOL...

but I told my husband, her legs are so thin it is strange to see a woman in the movies during that time that was so thin. She would fit in with today's bunch!

[fortworthgal]

Don't feel badly! You didn't say anything negative, just that she looked too thin - which she did, for now obvious reasons.

Apparently she dealt with anorexia for quite a while, through most of the 1950s I've read.

[Grantgirl]

Gosh it makes you wonder how long the disease has been around doesn't it?

In a way I wish things were like they used to be where a curvy woman was admired and celebrated. Today if you don't look like a stick figure you don't work in Hollywood evidently. I think that may be why the backlash of all the 'reality TV'. Heck sometimes even those shows seem to be about the pretty and thin!

The funny thing is though in Eleanore King's "Guide to Glamor" I was looking at the weight chart and according to my height I'm supposed to be 100lbs even! I workout as much as possible, eat normally, use weights, etc and that still makes me 40 lbs overweight. I think as much as I'd like to lose 15 right now, I would look like a complete circus freak at that weight.

[melankomas]

Gosh it makes you wonder how long the disease has been around doesn't it?

In a way I wish things were like they used to be where a curvy woman was admired and celebrated. Today if you don't look like a stick figure you don't work in Hollywood evidently. I think that may be why the backlash of all the 'reality TV'. Heck sometimes even those shows seem to be about the pretty and thin!

The funny thing is though in Eleanore King's "Guide to Glamor" I was looking at the weight chart and according to my height I'm supposed to be 100lbs even! I workout as much as possible, eat normally, use weights, etc and that still makes me 40 lbs overweight. I think as much as I'd like to lose 15 right now, I would look like a complete circus freak at that weight.

:offtopic: anorexia has been a serious problem for a very long time. as one example, and certainly not the eldest, i believe women (possibly men, i have no idea) during Queen Victoria's reign suffered from anorexia prompted by the desire to appear pious and unworldly. i could very well have the wrong time period...

[Glaistig]

:offtopic: anorexia has been a serious problem for a very long time.
This thread has been very insightful, fascinating about how what we think of as a "modern" phenomenon -- i.e., anorexia -- has impacted women at many different times. . ..

My beauty muses:

(1) Josephine Baker
(2) Louise Brooks
(3) Audrey Hepburn
(4) Many vintage pictures of classic flappers. . . .

As for Mme Dita Von Teese, tee hee, I must admit to adoring her quote "I advocate glamour. Every day. Every minute." I can't always live up to it, but I love the concept!

And, from what I can see, many of the ladies on this site exemplify an easy going, almost effortless approach to this idea.... :cool2:

[Folly]

Audrey. I don't think you can ever go wrong with following her lead. If in doubt, thinking WWAD (what would audrey do) has helped me out time after time!

I have a lovely book that is all about her look and style. It has a list of clothes to make up an Audrey wardrobe and make up charts too. It's really inspiring. When I got it, I spent most of the time milling about in a little black dress and kitten heeled shoes. I even went to a day of vintage and classic car racing done up as Holly Golightly!

But I do have a habit of doing my lipstick like Lillian Gish! My husband has to stop me going out like it!

[Liz]

I think my two biggest inspirations would be Brigitte Bardot and Ronnie Spector.

[Tough Cookie]

Sophia Loren and Ava Gardener.
And Ingrid Bergman.
Jean Simmons.
And the lovely Rita Hayworth.

[jugband1]

I think Hedy Lamarr is big for me, also Vivien Leigh, Ava Gardner, Gene Tierney, and Jane Russell. Being brunette myself, I love all the saucy dark haired ladies. Their glamour inspires me. Modern day? I have to agree about Dita. She has it.

-kate

[Brooksie]

[QUOTE=GOK]I'm not sure I have any muses - I certainly don't try to emulate anyone - I have only ever wanted to be me.

GOK- That is because you are already so pretty!

Brooksie

[Jeynne]

Rita Hayworth.

I was watching Gilda with my father a few weeks ago, and he actually asked me if she was supposed to be pretty, because he doesn't she is. I just gave him a look.

[Pandora Pitstop]

For me it has to be Gina Lollobrigida in 'Beautiful But Dangerous'. Seeing her in this film first inspired me into corsetry. Just that great scene of her duelling with swords with another woman in all her tight-laced glory, what a role model! Say has anyone see those photo of Ms Von Teese in her erly days as a Playboy model? Ugh! So glad she saw the light and ditched the blonde bimbo look, she would have never made her fortune otherwise.

[misslizzy]

Ava Gardner. But you were at the wedding, so you knew that Miss Pitstop :)

[LadyDeWinter]

For me its Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn.

[Pandora Pitstop]

Yes Eva, I can certainly see the influence, you have her smile! By the way it was Sarah who showed me the photos of a very young Ms Von Teese! Both of user recently bought the burlesque book, sarah for the styling, me for the corsetry - not that you need a book about it Miss Lizzy ;-)

[BegintheBeguine]

Since high school, I've emulated Jean Shrimpton, Brigitte Bardot, Nico and Catherine Deneuve, but it always comes back to the eyeliner of Nancy Sinatra.
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/beginthebeguine_2007/848102_170x170.jpg

[princessofcandl]

Let us not forget the Beautiful Ann Margaret. I loved her in Swingers.

btw... Pandora.... fyi Dita is a natural blonde and dies her hair dark. No biggie, just thought you'd want to know. I love that she gives us brunettes a leg up in the glam leagues. Especially for that femme fatel look.

[Etienne]

Oh, my Muse is Vera Ellen! She is amazing, not in to many movies but I just love her. She was in White Christmas with Bing, Rosemarry, and Danny Kaye. Anyone else know who she is?

AirborneSally, could that woman dance or WHAT?! And what an amazingly toned, athletic, feminine, sexy shape she had!

[Etienne]

Don't feel badly! You didn't say anything negative, just that she looked too thin - which she did, for now obvious reasons.

Apparently she dealt with anorexia for quite a while, through most of the 1950s I've read.


I had no idea she struggled with anorexia! I have only seen her in that one movie (White Christmas) and thought she was thin because she was such a powerful dancer! I just assumed that was her normal weight and size...TEENY!

[lindylady]

I'm going to have to watch White Christmas again. I didn't even pick up on that. I guess I was just focusing on Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby :o

[HadleyH]

For me , Catherine Denueve circa 1965, comes close to perfection. She has been called "the most beautiful woman in the world" and I really think she was! What I like most about her then ,was that her physical beauty was not at the mercy of anything .... hers was a beauty classically perfect... the very image of romantic beauty.

[Liz]

For me , Catherine Denueve circa 1965, comes close to perfection. She has been called "the most beautiful woman in the world" and I really think she was! What I like most about her then ,was that her physical beauty was not at the mercy of anything .... hers was a beauty classically perfect... the very image of romantic beauty.

I completely agree with this. I've been a big fan of hers for years and would say she is without question one of the most beautiful stars of all time. She still looks great today as well!

[Pandora Pitstop]

Let us not forget the Beautiful Ann Margaret. I loved her in Swingers.

btw... Pandora.... fyi Dita is a natural blonde and dies her hair dark. No biggie, just thought you'd want to know. I love that she gives us brunettes a leg up in the glam leagues. Especially for that femme fatel look.


Yes I am aware of this fact, that doesn't mean she necessarily looks good in her 'natural state' ;-) I regret that I too am a natural blonde and it doesn't do a thing for me either ;-(

[CherryBombRock]

I suppose when I was younger I focused in more on modern women - specifically Liv Tyler (one of the best compliments I've ever had was that I looked like her. I don't, at all, but still all good!)
Now I'll definatly say Dita - but the whole package - the hair, the clothes, the makeup and her refined attitude are definatly something to aspire to.
I also I love all the pictures I have of my grandma - I only other redhead in the family, plus she had a wardrobe to die for. Unfortunatly when she passed away I only keep a few things as I wasn't so much in vintage, plus she was tiny!
I would say I'm mainly influenced by burlesque artistes, old and new, and any redhead immediately grabs my attention!

[CherryBombRock]

I'd love to see some of those pics of Dita when she was blond, just a comparison to see how much better she is now!

[misslizzy]

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n258/ms-lizzy/ditablonde.jpg

[Sunny]

I'm going to have to watch White Christmas again. I didn't even pick up on that. I guess I was just focusing on Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby :o

You're getting your movies mixed up - it's Holiday Inn (my favorite of the two) with Fred and Bing. White Chrismas is Bing and Danny Kaye, yum! And if you like Vera Ellen, you must see her in "Wonder Man," also with The Danny. She's definitely not anorexic in it - such a cutie! She has these amazing red dance shoes that are pointe ballet shoes with taps. AMAZING! :eusa_clap

[Amy Jeanne]

My beauty muses are all those spectacular women of the 1930s! I adore Kay Francis, Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, and Joan Blondell. These ladies have inspired my makeup and hairstyles. I wish I could dress more like them, but that would be impossible for me.

When I was a kid I loved Marilyn Monroe. I kept a scrapbook (that I still have!) and seriously thought she was the most beautiful woman who ever lived. I used to stay up late and pretend I was her by putting on glam makeup and wraping myself up in this furry bedspread that we used to have! Good times.

[LadyStardust]

My ultimate beauty muse is a lady I'm sure most don't know about sadly. She is Maude Fealy, a rather famous Edwardian actress, who did make a foray into movies, but for whatever reason never really hit it off. To me, she is nothing short of breath-taking, with thick, luxuriant hair, the deepest, most soulful eyes, soft, round, healthy features, and just a radiance that was completely natural.
http://smathersdlcl1.uflib.ufl.edu/docsc/Ringling/1532.jpg

[Emblaze]

Wow, Maude Fealy was beautiful!

Sunny, have you seen Happy Go Lovely and Call Me Madam?

[Sunny]

Wow, Maude Fealy was beautiful!

Sunny, have you seen Happy Go Lovely and Call Me Madam?

No, ma'am! I take it you recommend?

[Eleanor Marie]

I love Dita but Marilyn Monroe was my muse as a teenager as well as Margaret Lockwood and Joan Fontaine - my favourite films are The Wicked Lady and Jane Eyre. I am crazy about costume films and dramas especially Austen and Bronte, anything from Medieval period to 1950's costume -wise. I also adore Dangerous Liaisons. The BBC make fabulous productions which I have no patience to wait for!

[Emblaze]

No, ma'am! I take it you recommend?

Happy Go Lovely is a bit rubbish, but I like Call Me Madam. Ethel Merman is awesome!