Men wearing make-up

[Spiffy]

Didn't Valentino wear makeup?
I remember reading somewhere that his "effeminate" airs (including wearing pressed powder in public) were seen as a HUGE threat to young men. Let's see if I can find my book....

"These contradictions had boiled over in July 1926, when the Chicago Tribune delivered a vicious personal attack, headlined "Pink Powder Puffs." It began with a horrified description of finding "a powder vending machine! In a men's washroom!": "We personally saw two 'men'....step up, insert coin, hold kerchief beneath the spout, pull the lever, then take the pretty pink stuff and pat it on their cheeks in front of a mirror." As "the prototype of the American male," Valentino was held responsible for "this degeneration into effeminacy." This insult continued to haunt the actor on his deathbed."

-from Teenage: The Prehistory of Youth Culture 1875-1945 by Jon Savage

[Doran]

Might someone start a thread on male eyebrow care? I do not know where to start. (I do possess tweezers, so that's something of a pre-start.)

[Charlie Noodles]

Francis Drake is just a little bit TOO vintage for my tastes.



Do you suppose back then they had a "copotain lounge" anywhere? Where men could meet and discuss the glory days of the English Reformation and the Black Death?

[kowalskt63]

My wife regularly waxes my brows, and for nights out I use concealer to help under the eyes a bit. When I was young, I used to use mascara to pretty up my mustache a bit. I think it's all perfectly normal.

[Carlisle Blues]

I am getting a better idea of the eyebrow thing. I reference the vintage comedian Carrot Top.

[scotrace]

Two threads on the same topic are now one.


Longtime members will remember and be bored by my story of using a little of my mother's eyebrow pencil to darken my skimpy mustache when I was an early twentysomething. On a date, I kissed my girlfriend and was horrified to see her lips all darkened with the stuff.

It's good to have neat eyebrows, and very good to have help with them. Nose hair is disgusting. Same for ears.

Maybe we do need a how-to thread? But I hope more ladies will chime in with their thoughts, because most guys will probably stay well clear of any kind of HINT of fussing unless they feel that women would appreciate more careful grooming. Men tend to do what their women like, yes?

(Unless you're a wiseguy lawyer. )

[Caity Lynn]

^ in the middle of making one, if no one minds....same place as here to put it in?

[Paisley]

My opinion:

The look of neat, manicured hair is good. This includes eyebrows, hair on the head and hair on the back of the neck. It looks masculine, and it looks like the man takes pride in his appearance.

I've always tweezed my dad's ears and I trim any long eyebrow hairs; I let him take care of his own nose hair.

Make-up is another thing altogether. There's this man that I had the mother of all crushes on; I'd literally break into a sweat around him. Then I saw a photo of him in 20s style eyeliner. O.M.G. what a turnoff. Unless a man is going to be on a stage or in front of a camera, make-up gets a no from me.

And it's never happened to me, but I don't think I'd like it if a man asked to borrow my under-eye cream. Or my earrings. I'm the girl around here.

[Caity Lynn]

^ I've had guys both ask for my moisturizer, and steal my earrings. I've also seen girls (*cough* not me yet, but I can see it happening) coax their bfs into letting them put eyeliner on them. I also know guys who like their girls to do it.

[Doran]

Originally Posted by Caity Lynn

^ I've had guys both ask for my moisturizer, and steal my earrings. I've also seen girls (*cough* not me yet, but I can see it happening) coax their bfs into letting them put eyeliner on them. I also know guys who like their girls to do it.

In the 1980s when I was a bleach-blond punk rocker I allowed my girlfriend, a licensed cosmetologist, to put black eyeliner on me when we went to gigs. The problem was, in L.A., there was a punk gang (the 1980s L.A. punk scene was hugely infested with gangs / organized into gangs, however you want to look at it) called LADS (Los Angeles Death Squad) who characteristically used eyeliner. I went to a show with the eyeliner on, and present was a contingent of the Suicidals gang, an offshoot of (I think) Venice 13. The "Suicidal Boys" were followers of Mike Muir's hardcore band Suicidal Tendencies. They thought I was from LADS. I still have a scar on my chin from that encounter.

But nowadays in the vintage world, I guess that's pretty different for a man to wear eyeliner. To each his own, I suppose .... any thoughts on masculine makeup from our resident professional Hollywood makeup artist (and founder of the Fedora Lounge) MK?

[cherry lips]

I second this

Originally Posted by Caity Lynn

personally (warning: teenager rant/opinion) personally, guys in eyeliner are HOTTT.

and this

Originally Posted by Barbigirl

PLEASE WORRY about grooming your eyebrows, nose hair and ear beards!
If you are pushing 40 or over -- Don't think you don't have them, you do. It is just not attractive.

Of course, the guys I go for don't exactly have facial hair problems *tihi!*

[Laura Chase]

I know too few men who would be interested in using makeup, which is a shame, because it's beautiful. I don't mind a bit of nail polish either. But of course, this is not very "vintage". I do think, however, that certain men's 20's looks are very compatible with some eye liner. All silent film stars, men and women, wore makeup in the films and certainly it added to Buster Keaton's charm - and who can resist him? Just perfect.

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by Laura Chase

I don't mind a bit of nail polish either.

I have my nails buffed when I get a mani/pedicure. Not quite as shiny as polish and it doesn't chip or peel off.

[Geesie]

Stage makeup when worn on stage is different from makeup worn off stage.

[Laura Chase]

Geesie, naturally, but I'm certain that the look would work off-stage too, with regular makeup that is less heavy, if that is your concern.

Tomasso, kudos to you for getting your hands and feet done! Nice hands are awesome.

[cherry lips]

I have a faiblesse for 18th century blue-blooded male make-up and attire: powder, rouge, mouche, etc. Drool!

Tom Cruise as the 18th century vampire Lestat

Casanova

http://18thcenturyblog.com
http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=207&size=550x550_mb&ptp_phot o_id=145452
Portrait of King Louis XV
I couldn't find any truly satsifying photos, so please post examples of 18th century male make-up if you have any!

[Odalisque]

Originally Posted by cherry lips

I have a faiblesse for 18th century blue-blooded male make-up and attire: powder, rouge, mouche, etc. Drool!

Tom Cruise as the 18th century vampire Lestat

Second that drool!

[Caity Lynn]

At the risk of seeming a little on the dark side....

Graverobber from Repo the Genetic Opera

[MisterCairo]

Originally Posted by Geesie

Stage makeup when worn on stage is different from makeup worn off stage.

Hear, hear!

Buster Keaton et al did NOT wear pancake makeup off screen - the makeup was designed to enhance their appearance on film (Valentino possible exception there).

Call me old fashioned (please) but MEN do NOT wear "makeup".

They do, however, moisturize and use appropriate shaving lotions, balms and colognes.

That's okay.

I hope.....

[chanteuseCarey]

Thank you Mr. Cairo, Glad somebody, ESPECIALLY a male on the FL said this. Basic skin care (cleansing, moisturizing, shaving and caring for facial hair on a regular basis)etc. is all good things for men to do, along with taking care of oneself physically (eating right, keep oneself in healthy shape via exercise etc, hair care etc.) is all fine and frankly expected.

Makeup for men is okay if he is on film or on stage, but jeez- that's it!

Originally Posted by MisterCairo

Hear, hear!

Call me old fashioned (please) but MEN do NOT wear "makeup".

They do, however, moisturize and use appropriate shaving lotions, balms and colognes.

That's okay.

I hope.....