Yes, vintage styled weddings and brides are on the rise.
Each decade of the 20th Century had its own unique style. From the flapper girls of the 1920s, to the refined elegance of the 40s and 50s, the psychedelic prints of the 70s and those padded shoulders that defined the 80s – you can see why so many women want a yesteryear look to their Big Day.
My own favourite look is the 1940s (as you all know), particularly the latter part of the decade. I love the nipped in waists and full skirts that characterised Dior’s New Look. I’ve also a sneaky fondness for those high-waisted slacks – Katherine Hepburn wore them a lot – an outfit choice that’s surprisingly flattering for most women.
Vintage style needs vintage beauty to match it. In the 1940s, there was a distinct look that most people recognise as belonging to its time. Make-up was one of those luxuries that was in short supply for European women at the time because of the Second World War, but for special occasions women still loved to put it on.
The classic 40s vintage beauty look is defined brows, mascara, rouge (as blusher was called back then) and red lipstick. Again, red lipstick is a universally flattering choice for women. There’s a red lipstick out there for you – you just need to ensure it matches your skin tone. Paler skin tones suit blue reds – though they need the right balance of eye make-up so it works – while warmer skin tones suit corals. I keep a large stock of red lipsticks in my ‘armoury’ so I can help you find the one that suits you perfectly.
In the 1940s and 50s, you always matched your nails to your lips and red nails were another make-up essential of the age.
As most women in the UK would have been working in the 1940s as part of the war effort, the most common hairstyles were up-dos, often featuring gorgeous Victory Rolls, Pin Curls and Hollywood Wave. Women opting for a vintage 40s wedding always want the beautifully-styled hair of the time and I specialise in providing it.
Here’s a little insight into my vast lipstick collection. Send me a tweet of all you gorgeous people wearing your own red lippy to @VeryBettie
