Marilyn Monroe 1950's Hair and Make-Up Tutorial

When I think of 1950's hair and make-up and what defines that era, I am predominantly thinking of Marilyn Monroe's iconic look.  Yes, she was definitely a natural beauty, but her look was defined by more than that. It was the make-up trickery and techniques that her make-up artist, Allan 'Whitey' Snyder spent an age refining. In a sense, it wasn't accidental beauty, every element of her face was worked on and enhanced in some shape or form. I was so excited to re-create this Marilyn look, using her own reported techniques for a look that appears so simple at first glance but actually it's like a complex science, where everything must be in perfect balance. So here's a few tips and guidelines on creating this iconic look...

Firstly, the shape of the eye that Marilyn liked to create was a very elongated almond shaped eye which looked almost sleepy, so make sure you drag the shadow and the liner further than the corner of the eye to create that illusion. In terms of shadow, run a natural brown colour through the socket to add definition and an off white base on the lid. The eyeliner flick was not overly thick like Audrey Hepburn's, just a small flick to enhance the illusion of that sleepy eye.Make sure your brows are well groomed and angular is the key here!

A really cool trick I learned about Marilyn's eye makeup, was that she used to run a brown shadow or pencil underneath her bottom lashes which extended out diagonally to create a fake shadow. You may be able to recognise this on photos, it appears that her lashes are so full and long that they cast a shadow underneath. This did look a bit strange when I first applied, but once you apply a set of false lashes, and snap a photo you will be surprised how effective this is! 

For the lips I went ombre with a dark cherry lip liner and then taking a brighter red (Ruby Woo or Russian Red from MAC will do the trick) and applying that all over, blending in to the liner. Then pat some white shadow powder right in the centre of the lips, this might also seem a bit odd but once you take a photo it will be become clear. This illuminates the fullest part of lips, giving them a more full, plumped up appearance. 

Marilyn was quite a fan of the contour and highlight- define the cheekbones, the jawline and also shade the sides of the nose. Marilyn was reportedly quite conscious of her nose and actually had a nose job but Whitey made sure to contour and slim it down all the same. 

Don't forget to add the iconic beauty spot and heated rollers are definitely your best friend here!

I took most of these photos on my iPhone which I wouldn't usually recommend but I really love that soft focus kind of effect that you can get with it and I think it just adds to the authenticity of this iconic 50's look.

Photography by Kirsty Brown http://www.facebook.com/kirstybphotography

 Love 

Ruby Who

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Avante Garde Hair and Make-Up Shoot, The Secret Garden

So as much as I love that feeling of completion when a project comes together exactly how you had been imagining,  I can't help but feel slightly at a loss when faced with the void that it leaves. So precisely after finishing my Sea Shell hat, I got that feeling that I can only imagine is like the feeling a parent has when their child flies the nest. So I'd say that's a mixture of joy... 'YES!! they're finally gone my work is done here, I'm off down the pub to consume my body weight in wine!!' (my nearest and dearest can verify this behaviour no doubt)... coupled with a hint of dismay, what should I do now to occupy my time productively??

The only answer to this predicament is to channel your creative energy into a new project, and for me that was a new Avante Garde Hair project; an opportunity to creative something wildly over the top and unnecessary- yippee!

So I took my inspiration for this project from The Secret Garden; a fantastical, enchanted woodland with a mystical and eerie charm which has a dreamlike state. I really wanted to show the paradox between a bleak and somewhat spooky landscape with the beauty of life and nature that my model and the birds brought to the picture.

As my first hair piece, I am really pleased with the outcome. There isn't a lot of guidance out there on how to create Avante Garde Hair, you pretty much just have to just let yourself go wild and see what happens. Incorporate absolutely anything into the design and take your inspiration from anywhere! That was precisely my problem with this project; the scope of what you can do left me feeling somewhat overwhelmed and wanting to implement every idea I had into one design. I had to remind myself of the theme and the look that I could visualize in my mind. Though, in true Becky Hanks style, I once again went over the top on the photographic styling and brought a birdcage along...as you do! Not everything on the shoot worked so you might need some vision for the bird cage photos which are to follow!! All in all though, I'm really happy with the photos (besides a couple of drunk birds looking like they might fall from their perch!) A big thank you to my Photographer George Burgess who captured the images, as well as this rather fetching one of me looking like a boy! Please remind me to make more of an effort on my personal appearance for future photo shoots :)

Love Ruby Who

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MAC Archie's Girls Collection Launch

 

I love this idea for MAC's newest collection which launched in stores yesterday, its got a really kitsch 50's feel to it and the packaging is just so charming- little red hearts and comic illustrations of either Betty or Veronica printed on each box. So naturally I took a wander down to the nearest MAC counter to see what it was all about. The eye pencils really caught my eye, available in 4 colours; Petrol Blue, Black Swan, Designer Purple and Lord it Up (Bronze/Brown) They are really creamy and all contain particles of glitter, everybody knows a girl loves glitter right! So these were a winner with me, I would say though that at £15.50 they are probably more of a collectable item and they won't last as long as standard MAC pencils; but what the hell we single girls should treat ourselves this Valentines to a gift from Archie! The blue smokey eye will be making its West End debut this weekend, perfect for a matinee showing of Thriller...

Love 

Ruby Who

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A Vow to perfect Brows- Illamasqua style!

Troubled with thin, sparse brows?? hmm me too. I look on in envy of those bushy browed beauties; Cara Delevingne and Megan Fox to name a few who are blessed with the beauty and the brows! Whilst miracle brow grow is still under development (fingers crossed!!) there are a few tricks which you can try to boost those brows...

Now, I've tried many different products in my quest for fuller looking brows from pencils to shadows and gels and it turns out there is a very thin line (excuse the pun) between looking natural and realistic, and to looking like you've accidentally fallen asleep and your friend has kindly taken a sharpie to your forehead. Thankfully this hasn't happened to me, though I am guilty of occasionally 'over pencil-ing' shall we say, only to notice my scary reflection from a shop window. Thankfully, Illamasqua came to my rescue last year with their revolutionary brow cakes and sealing gels. Their brow cakes come in a small compact which are great for keeping in your handbag, and are in a pressed powder form. You can use them as they are, applying as a powder with an angled brush, OR, and here's the best bit, mix a couple of drops of sealing gel to the cake and Voila, you have yourself some waterproof, smudge-proof, long lasting, HD brows! I absolutely love this product, its like none other I've tried and it's great that you can vary the intensity of the look with the sealing gel without it looking like you got over excited with the brow pencil. 

A great finishing touch, is to take Illamasqua's pencil in 'Vow,' a creamy off white colour and draw in a line underneath your brow, smudging out the edges. This really defines the line of your brows and also adds highlight to the brow bone.

3 cheers for Illamasqua's vow to perfect brows, yippee!!

Love

Ruby Who

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Modtastic! Peggy Moffitt at 72

With my own 60's hair and make-up shoot on the horizon, what better inspiration could one have than the series of photos featured in the new issue of Love magazine, its the iconic 60's model Peggy Moffitt at the ripe old age of 72! Photographed by Tim Walker, Peggy showcases her trademark mod style and dolly eyed make-up and proves that you dont have to have youth to have style. Infact, her pride in individuality is somewhat inspiring. Now some of you may be wondering "has Dot Cotton (aka June Brown) taken up a new role in the circus?" Well not exactly, but I do think the striking resemblance can only be a compliment, afterall June Brown knows how to rock a mod bowl hair cut!

This look might not be to everyone's taste but I do love to see this 60's look is still rocking today and I think it's great that Dot, ahem Peggy has stayed true to her style roots. You go girl!

Love

Ruby Who

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Sea Girl Body Art, Make-up and that Seashell Hat!

#bodyart #shells #sea #makeup

I finally did it, that Seashell hat that's been occupying my dreams and most of reality has just materialized before my eyes!...or I wish it was as easy as that, in fact it was many sleepy nights cooped up in my flat with paper mache on my face and glitter in my hair, oh the glamorous life I lead! Having to leave social happenings and passing on drinks with friends in order to tend to 'the hat'- yes I really was becoming concerned for my social dignity! But this was to be the focal point of my 'Under the Sea' body art, and so the headpiece was just the beginning...

200+ shells, 10 starfish, hundreds of beads, lashings of glitter and 3 pairs of handmade glitter eyelashes later, the sea girl is born! Complete with very own afro, as I can imagine a girl of the sea would not be complete without a huge mane of frizzy hair!

Modelled by Esther Luff and photographer George Burgess did a great job! Now I've completed this project I'm not sure where I should focus my creative energy... candy cane dress? Bird nest hat perhaps?! and my friends think I'm crazy pah! In the wise words of Miss Monroe that are scrawled on my bedroom wall, 

"It is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring!" 

Love Ruby Who

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