Book Review: "Retro Makeup - Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look"

Hello everyone,

A while ago I posted about Lauren Rennells new book "Retro Makeup - Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look". Most of you already know her as the author of "Vintage Hairstyling", my personal bible for Vintage hair :-)

I saw it and thought I better get it, based on the damn good impressions I have from Vintage Hairstyling Edition 1 + 2 (and before you ask: YES, it is important to have both editions bec

ause there are different stylings in it!)

So how do I find it? Is it worth buying and what do you actually get?

This book covers a lot of make up history. It introduced various make up brushes that you can use to reproduce or re-interprete the styles of the book. This is very very good for make up novices! The book covers the history of our most beloved cosmetic articles such as lipstick, blush, eye liner, mascara etc. While those contained no news for me it was still interesting to read and also included some nice novelty facts.

Every decade introduced features 3 different looks and how to reproduce them. None of it seems particulary tricky. Apart from the 60s eye liner styles they seem almost too easy to me, but than again I have been doing my own hair and make up for shootings for 7 years. It is very nice for reference though.

Things I felt were missing: I felt that something on how to emphasize your individual face form using blush or/and highlighter was missing. There is a short part on it, but that is not really much. I would have loved to have more stuff such as articles from old magazines or/and beauty books in it. I have some where they display makeup morning routines in detail and I LOVE that. In the book is one written description from the 50s. Besides that I have nothing to complain. ;-)

I really enjoyed: The beautifull photos, the breakdown on brushes, the part on what ladies had on their vanities, the "novelty" trivias in it.

Is it worth buying? Do you have the two Kevyn Aucoin books on Make up and Mike Browns books "The 1940s Look" and "The 1950s Look"? If so you don´t necessarily need this book.

However it is nice to have. The make ups are easy to reproduce. The advice is helpfull and if you have not that much knowledge about era-specific looks it is wellworth the money! I say: BUY!

Where can you get it?

Germany: http://www.ars-vivendi.de/shop/

Worldwide: http://www.hrstbooks.com/

What makes a model a good one?

Hi everyone,

you may answer the question above with "that she is skinny, tall and underage". This may go for mainstream standard, but what is with the rest of us? The fat, old dwarfs like me? (by model-standards).

Answer: Research, Preparation, Dedication.

Research: I have tons of magazines, books on various topics. Mostly about topics such as history, fashion, make up, art, culture and even books on behaviour. Whenever I plan something I usually do a good amount of research with my books and the internet.

Not only of fashion and make up, but also on poses that might fit the topic, interpretations, symbolism, etc. etc. Often you can´t tell bout all the stuff that actually goes into a photo, but believe me, sometimes I spend hours googling on a subject just to give it my interpretation.

Preparation: You can´t go to a shooting smelling like a toilet exploded next to you with unshaved legs, tired eyes etc. etc. It actually works best if you have a special preparation ritual. Mine includes a hot bath, a facial, manicure and pedicure before I go to bed the evening before the shoot.

You have to get the clothes and props together that you need. This is very important cause if something is missing chances are that you are screwed! You also have to communicate what sort of pictures are actually planned. I´m a hunter of props and acessoires. Both for shootings that are planned and for future shoots. I often browse ebay and sometimes when I´m out and about shopping something catches my eye that would make a good costume or prop. If it isn´t way out of my price range I will take it along just in case. Often I make things myself based on ideas I have for photos and than get to use it when the photographer and me agree that this could be a fabulous topic.

Sometimes I try a make up or hairstyling weeks before I actually shoot it, just to make sure that it suits me and that I can apply it in the way it is meant to be. Believe me it is an advantage when you can do your own hair and make up.

Dedication: I don´t need to explain that hanging on to those things on a daily base needs a lot of dedication and enthusiasm, it also does to take the energy to look out for cool new shootings. There is allways someone taller, thinner, prettier than you. But you have it in your hands what you make with what you´ve got and to use your individual knowledge and your skills to score. Cause let´s face it: The fewest of us are agency-material, we have to be our managers, our webdesigners, our promoters, our make up artist, our stylist and our designer and all of this at once.

This applies to all sort of models that don´t fit the sheme of what is considered model-material. And in many cases even the ones that DO fit. And when I say so you can actually trust in it as I´m a fat old modelling dwarf since amost 6 years ;-)

The Pin up Starter Kit

Hi ladies!

Here is one more guide for ladies that want to get started with pin up or dressing vintage...

Make up and styling:
RED Lipstick (not light pink or pink or nude-tones or whatever it just wouldn´t look right. There is a red to match every skincolour. If you´re in doubt order some samples from http://www.besamecosmetics.com/)

the usual make up stuff

Two words about Make up books: KEVYN AUCOIN. he has two volumes of books that show the basics of Make up AND also shows some cute retro-styles. Check them out on amazon!

For the hair: Find out what´s best for you to get your hairs curly (no straight hairs, unless you wanna go for a 60s look). some things to try: Tripple Barrel Iron (for georgous fake-waterwaves - it even works quiet easy. Even when I tried it for the first time I managed to give my hair a georgous look with it. Take a heat protection spray and there you go), Curling iron (heat protection needed still), Curlers that one can heat up, Sponge Rollers (I sleep in them somtimes to get curly hairs, but beware the hair needs looong to dry), Hot sticks and last but not least Pincurls (I personally never found out how they work, but maybe they are your thing. You´ll need a setting-lotion for those)

Tons of hair-pins

Clothing:
Girdle or waist cincher (You can find them either on ebay, but you can find them at www.girdlebound.com (USA), www.ars-vivendi.de (Germany) and www.whatkatiedid.com (UK)) no Pin up is complete without them and they are to hold the:

Full Fashioned or seamed Stockings (without seam only if you wanna go 60s, believe me, it does make a difference)

Gloves to put on the stockings (you don´t want to get them ruined, right?)

Bullet Bra (a normal bra might do for the beginning, but if you wanna do it 100% right you´ll sooner or later want to get a proper bullet one for the right vintage shape. Sources besides ebay: www.girdlebound.com (USA), www.cameo-intimates.com (USA), www.ars-vivendi.de (Germany) and www.whatkatiedid.com (UK))

Vintagey Heels

The rest of clothing depends on which decade you personally prefer. Those are just basics cause I get to see many photos of girls that try to look pin up style in their photos, but it just doesn´t look right cause there is just one or two wrong details that kill the illusion.

Hugs,
Sari