Vintage Style Icon: Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth wasn't always the auburn haired sex symbol most famously remembered as being the vampy "Gilda", she was born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn to a flamenco dancer father and a Ziegfield girl dancer for a mother.

Margarita was put through an extensive makeover (her hairline was raised via a series of very painful electrolysis treatments...this was in the 40s folks!), asked to lose 30 lbs, and dye her naturally dark hair to auburn (she was also blonde and red haired at some points) and change her name so she sounded and looked less Latina.

And voila! A star is born!

6 Silent Screens Stars You've Probably Never Heard Of

I do realize the title of this post is a bit of a pun and it wasn't intentional, but I had a bit of a giggle about it so decided to keep the title name.

Anyhow... I was perusing for some hair ideas for this year's Halloween costume (I'm going as Betty Boop!) and happened upon all of these silent screen star actresses I had never heard of but were all so lovely I just had to share.


Perhaps November will be Silent Movie month and I'll finally get around to watching movies before the talkies.

Style Icon: Brigitte Bardot

"I have been very happy, very rich, very beautiful, much adulated, very famous and very unhappy." - Brigitte Bardot

Fashion influence: In fashion the Bardot neckline (a wide open neck that exposes both shoulders) is named after her. Bardot popularized this style which is especially used for knitted sweaters or jumpers although it is also used for other tops and dresses.

Vintage Clothing & Fashion in the Movies: "The Women" by George Cukor 1939

Fabulous vintage clothes, don't you think? Some of the costumes are so outlandish in the best sort of way! The "eyes" sweater for example... it's so interesting, I could easily see this being snapped up in a heart beat at a vintage shop.



Image screencap credits: Live Journal via Film Stills

How They Measured Up: Measurements of Vintage Hollywood's Leading Ladies

My ideal female form are the figures of women in the 1940s and 1950s. On the thinner side, I adored Audrey Hepburn for her gamine appearance, but there is nothing quite like a bombshell figure, no?

How did women stay so slender back then without looking sickly skinny? I wonder why they did not have that "I need a sandwich, like now!" look as popularized by many celebrities these days. Brigitte Bardot had a 19" waist, NINETEEN! Instead they look wonderfully feminine and soft.

{ Measurements of Vintage Hollywood's Leading Ladies }

Rita Hayworth || 36.5C - 24 - 36
Sophia Loren || 38C - 24 - 38
Betty Grable || 36 - 24 - 35
Vivien Leigh || 32A - 23 - 33
Audrey Hepburn || 34A - 20 - 34
Marilyn Monroe || 36 - 23 37
Veronica Lake || 34 - 21 - 33
Ava Gardner || 36 -23 -37
Brigitte Bardot || 35.5 - 19 - 35
Elizabeth Taylor || 36C - 21 - 36


{ Veronica Lake - 21" waist }


{ Rita Hayworth - 24" waist }


{ Betty Grable - 24" waist and the most perfect legs in Hollywood }

Beauty Inspiration: 10 Vintage Hairstyles I Want to Give a Try

These vintage hairstyles are best suited for shoulder length and longer hair. I would have posted some shorter hairstyles of the late 20s and early 30s, but I'm not quite sure how I could manage the styles since my hair has grown out some.

If you notice, I prefer vintage hairstyles that do not look "too costume-y" and also ones that look easy to manage and replicate. I am wondering how to get the voluminous waves as worn by Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, and Lauren Bacall. Hmm... I wonder if their hair was curled then continuously brushed out until the curls are nearly gone.

There are quite a few books you can purchase on Amazon on mastering vintage hairstyles, curling techniques, tips for waves...etc. I haven't purchased any but considering it. For some reason many of them are quite expensive, do they contain a magical potion or secret one will only discover if you drop $80+ on these books? *sigh* I think trial and error will be kinder to my wallet.