Celebrity styles impact society. Without warning, a teenager lops off her ponytail for a short curly hair style. Drastically shaved eyebrows are suddenly allowed to grow naturally. Pearl lipstick takes over the traditional red shades almost overnight.
These fashion trends have all happened at different times but the affected women didn't need to attend a fashion design class to learn about them. They simply watched TV or went to the movies. Media influence is an all important factor in today's society.
Celebrity Trendsetters and Media Influence Have Created Many Signature Celebrity Hair Styles
The "Rachel Haircut" is one of the most recent hair style crazes out of Hollywood. Its original model, actress Jennifer Aniston has quipped "It's not Rachel's hair, it's mine" but it wasn't the "Jennifer Aniston Hairstyle" that was requested all over the world.... it was the Rachel. Farrah Fawcett's mane of feathered hair was huge in the 70s as was the "Streisand Sizzle", Barbra's afro-inspired do for the 1976 remake A Star is Born.
Back in the 50s when Gina Lollobrigida modeled her short curly hair style coined the "Poodle Cut", poodle haircuts started replacing teenager ponytails virtually overnight. Figure skater Dorothy Hamill inadvertently started a craze with her signature style, a simple short blunt cut. Mia Farrow's gamine cut, also worn by a young Leslie Caron and in later years updated by Vidal Sassoon, was a welcome alternative to high maintenance hairstyles.
Bleached Blonde Hair, Streaked Hair, Peek-a-boo Hair and British Invasion Hair Were all Copied from Celebrities
Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe, each in their own time, popularized the white-on-white platinum blonde look much to the delight of hair bleach manufacturers. Other trendsetting celebrities included Audrey Hepburn and her streaked hair in 1961's Breakfast at Tiffany's; Gloria Steinem wore similar streaks in her own hair for years.
Movies' fashion influence proved so controlling that Paramount Studios found it necessary to step in at the government's request when the peek-a-boo hairstyles of Veronica Lake and Lauren Bacall in the 40s were impeding vision and causing accidents among female factory workers.
Men weren't above being influenced by celebrity styles. Consider Elvis Presley's well-oiled coif or Fabian's pompadour; both were immensely popular. Rock music in the 70s showed us copycats to Robert Plant's and Peter Frampton's signature long blonde locks with varying degrees of success. Over the years there was also Errol Flynn's barely-there moustache, Elvis' huge sideburns and the Beatles' pixie style, more commonly referred to as "The Beatle".
Signature Perfumes Were Only Successful if Tied to a True Celebrity Icon
Many fashion designers have produced signature fragrances to promote their lines, most notably Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta and Giorgio Armani. However, only a true celebrity icon can popularize a signature scent simply by name alone. The most successful of these would have to be Elizabeth Taylor Perfumes. Her signature perfume line started with White Diamonds in 1991.
Following its triumphant release were Taylor's Passion, Diamonds and Rubies, Diamonds and Emeralds, Diamonds and Sapphires and Black Pearls. Millions of dollars have been spent on such signature perfumes. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker (Lovely), Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (Unforgivable), Britney Spears (Curious) and Julio Iglesias (Only) have all jumped on the fragrance bandwagon but none have proven as popular or profitable as Taylor's line.
Pearl Lipstick, Big or Natural Eyebrows and Bare Essentials Makeup
Elizabeth Taylor has been a force in fashion style and influence. Her 60s pearl lipstick and heavily-lined eyes were widely adopted. Joan Crawford prompted many women to copy enlarged eyebrows and an over-painted mouth but without Joan's over-sized features, this look was a tricky one to pull off.
Conversely to the shaved eyebrows of the 30s and the mammoth Crawford eyebrows of the 40s, Ingrid Bergman started an unlikely trend of natural eyebrows with her portrayal of the Spanish guerilla Maria in 1943's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Although necessary for the part, Bergman was known never to be very made up and her inherent beauty stood on its own. Women appreciated this 'unplucked' softer look and easily adapted.
The natural look resurfaced years later. After the launch of "Women's Liberation" in 1964, bare essentials makeup became a testimony to all women who wished to break the mold of the perfectly dolled housewife. Refreshingly clean and simple, many extreme makeup looks were abandoned for these natural, earthy shades and undone hair. Cybill Shepherd, Ali MacGraw and Mia Farrow all sported the fresh, girl-next-door image and found a solid following for their look among younger women.
Hollywood & Media Influence are Always Going to Drive Fashion Trends Based on Celebrity Styles
Whether it's historic clothing trends, short curly hair styles, signature perfumes or pearl lipstick, the general public attendance in the ongoing fashion design class provided by Hollywood's popular icons is guaranteed. The good news is that registration for this fashion design class is free ... unless you buy into the media influence and invest in the style trends of the day.
Sources:
- Entertainment Daily website
- IMDB website
Deborah Read - A writer on movies, music and their history for 35 years, Deborah IS trivia. Her 27+ years of decorating work has put her consulting ...
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