History’s Iconic Trend Setters

Have our iconic historical trendsetters gone from royalty to reality? The original trendsetters were members of the ruling class. Queen Elizabeth I adorned herself in a regal image earning her unmistakable recognition as Britain’s Monarch. Film stars followed, with the likes of Clara Bow, Greta Garbo and Marlene Deitrich topping the list of silver screen fashionistas, and eventually pop stars joined the list, with Lady Gaga and Madonna arguably among the most trendsetting women of the millennium.

A trendsetter is a woman to put on a pedestal, an icon that women want to follow. Will our next fashion icon be found trying to find love in all the wrong places, pulling tablecloths from under opulent dish settings, or snapping selfies? Here is a look at some of the historic iconic trendsetters of the past. Where do you think the next generation will come from?

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel
Coco Chanel not only revolutionized fashion, she liberated women. Not only do we have her to thank for such fashion staples as costume jewelry, the little black dress, and espadrilles, but for the freedom of women’s bodies. The corset free bust, the streamlined silhouette sans the hyper waistline, and women’s trousers were all Coco’s inventions, aimed at simplifying and accommodating the lifestyle of modern women.

Clara Bow
Clara Bow was the original IT girl and perhaps the ultimate flapper. Her look incorporates the slimming chevrons with the drop waist and additions of sequins for a more glam version.

Colleen Moore
If you’re wearing a bob today, you have silent film actress Colleen Moore to thank. The actress basically invented the block cut, and wore it until the day she died in 1988.

Josephine Baker
Without Josephine Baker, Beyonce may not have been shaking her booty today. This original showgirl turned spy was best known for her “banana dance’ and pet cheetah which she could frequently be seen taking walks with on the streets of Paris. She was also known for her flare for accessories, and could sometimes be found on stage wearing little else.

Greta Garbo
One would be remiss in leaving Greta Garbo off a list of trendsetters. This alluring film star fascinated women and men alike. Heavily depending on designer Valentina Schlee for her clothing collection, Garbo is often considered the epitome of Hollywood glamor.

Pola Negri
As the first European actress to be invited to Hollywood, you can bet Pola Negri was quite the trendsetter in her day. she could often be seen wearing turbans and fur boots, and even popularized the wearing of red painted toenails in the Western World.

Zelda Fitzgerald
One would expect the wife of the author of the Great Gatsby to be something of a muse. Husband F. Scott Fitzgerald declared his wife to be “the first American Flapper,” alluding to her creativity, attitude and independence as the encapsulation of the movement.

Jean Arthur
The literal first lady of screwball comedy, publicity shy Jean Arthur of the “I’d rather slit my throat than do and interview’ fame was known to rock and androgynous look, with man- style work shirts and relaxed fit trousers.

What do you think? Have our trendsetters gone from royalty to reality? Let us know!

Miss USA Makeup and Hair

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Miss USA contestants are beautiful: luscious hair, pearlescent teeth to match their bright eyes and round lips. Surgery is expensive, so we’ve devised makeup and hair tutorials inspired by the pageant queens to help with your look.

Miss USA Inspired Makeup
Release your inner beauty and emphasize your facial features by starting with your eyes. When choosing an eyeshadow, opt for a shade which matches your outfit. You can’t afford to blend into the background either, so choose deep colors: blues, blacks, grays and browns, all are great options.

Don’t just stick to one block color though. Contour your eye shape by blending a color palette – creating a shadow effect on the outer corner of the eye. A touch of white on the inner corner will brighten up your eyes and make them appear bigger. Don’t be afraid to take your makeup to the next level by adding some glitter too.

Complement your eyeshadow with liquid eyeliner and false eyelashes. It’s okay if your eyelashes are blatant. In fact, the bigger the better. Choose a shape which is thick, long and curved.

Once you’ve perfected the ear area, it’s time to cover up any blemishes and red patches you may have with a foundation and concealer. Although most Miss USA participants look like they’ve just come back from holiday, a foundation that’s obviously two shades too dark won’t do you any favours.

Stick to your natural color and pick a matte one (you don’t see Miss USA’s with shiny foreheads on stage). A quality primer beforehand will work wonders with those oily areas. Finish up with a concealer, powder and touch of bronzer to give you that sun-kissed look all year round.

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Miss USA Inspired Hair
Long, thick hair, recently dyed roots and stage lights mirroring off of their heads, you never see a Miss USA will flat, lackluster hair. Put down the hair straighteners, and reach for the curlers. Curls will instantly make your hair appear thicker and give you the confidence to work that stage.

Big, loose curls will make a statement, whereas tight curls are more suitable for an everyday look. For brunettes, go a few shades darker and add in some highlights to go all out. The last thing you’ll want to do is cover up your pretty makeup with a thick side fringe, so opt for a long sweeping one or a classic middle parting.

So there’s the style sorted. Now it’s time to work on the length. Extensions are your new best friend if you have short hair as they can frame any face perfectly. There’s no length requirement, but longer locks that reach past your shoulders to your ribcage has been a traditional look which almost every Miss USA in the competitions have sported for years.

Vanity isn’t what makes the contestants so great, but using makeup and hair tricks will help you exude confidence and be a strong contestant in the running.

Quick and Easy Hair Styles for Vacation

Vacation is a time for a lot of things. Fun, novelty, relaxation, curiosity maybe…but generally, most people don’t picture spending hours taming their locks every day as being a quintessential part of the vacation experience. In fact, it takes a great deal of time away from enjoying all the new experiences, fun times, and relaxing pampering you’re on the vacation to do. That said, nobody wants to go around all day looking like a total slob who never touches their hair, with frizz and bed-head aplenty. So is there a happy medium? A way to stay looking good and fresh without spending hours on your hair and missing out on the actual vacation? Vine Vera thinks there is, which is why we’ve come up with several hairdos that are simple and attractive. These are perfect for vacation, but we’ll give you a hint: they’re also great for any ordinary day you’re running late or are just feeling lazy, but don’t want to look lazy.

Simple Ponytail
No list of easy-but-good-looking hairstyles would be complete without this one. Do we even need to tell you how to do it? Just gather all your hair behind your head and secure with a hair tie. Vary the positioning of the ponytail for different effects. Low ponytails are simple and down-to-earth. High ponytails are fun and flirty. Side ponytails are cute and quirky. Adding a ribbon to the ponytail can add a playful, youthful element to your look.

The Braid-and-Ponytail
Section off a big chunk of hair on one side of your head and braid it. Then gather all of your hair, including the braid, into a big, messy, low-lying ponytail, making sure the braid sits on top of the rest of the hair that you have tied up. And you’re done! This adds attractive interest to an otherwise extremely simple look and only takes a few minutes more.

French Braid
This one’s a classic for a reason. Just start at the top of your head and stop when you’re out of hair, going straight down the middle of your scalp. And done! Elegance in minutes.

Half-Up Styles
This one is more like a whole subcategory of simple hairstyles, because there’s a bunch of unique things you can do if you vary it a bit. The basic, quintessential half-up styles is the half-ponytail. For this, simply gather all the hair from the front half of your head and pull it behind. Gather it together so that all the hair that would normally fall in front of your ears or over your forehead is now pulled back tight, making the front of your head look like it’s in a ponytail, but the back falling free. Now, just secure it with a hair tie.

For a twisty half-up do, do the same as the above instructions, but twist the two clumps of gathered hair around several times before joining them, and then twist the joined clump several times before putting on the hair tie. For a braided version, just follow the basic half-ponytail steps, but when you get to the part where you’d apply the hair tie, braid it instead, and put the hair tie at the end of the braid. Now you have an elegant braid laying on top of a bed of “down” hair, which creates some neat visual interest. Mess around with half-up styles and see if you can find a variation all your own that you like!

Vine Vera Looks at the Best Over 40 Hair Styles – VineVera Reviews

Women in their 40’s are more in style than ever before. With that being said, it’s no wonder women in their 40’s have some of the best hairstyles out there. People look to celebrity women for inspiration, and feed off of their style to develop a style all their own. If you want to learn about some of the hottest styles for women in their 40’s, read on to get a few ideas Vine Vera sourced from the internet. Maybe you can use one of these for your next haircut!

Short Shag Cut

Short shags offer sex appeal and a sporty edge, which make it great for any occasion. It goes with any outfit, and can be styled differently on a day to day basis. Use products like styling creams as opposed to gels or mousses to give it a softer, more touchable feel and look. This style can accent higher cheekbones, and provide something simple to style every day. This look may not work well for those with curly or coarse hair, however, so this cut should be done with caution.

Layered Bob

Layered bobs are nice because they offer something different in terms of a typical bland bob style. They give you more style to work with, and it gives dimension that just can’t be found in a regular bob. With or without bangs, this is a great and much loved go-to style for those who want something simple and easy to maintain that also provides plenty of style.

Shoulder Length

Shoulder length hair is always a classic and will never go out of style. This is a fabulous look for a woman in her forties, as it adds an air of youth and playfulness. You can wear it straightened, part it to the side or down the middle, or scrunch it for a different look. It can still be worn in a ponytail, so if you aren’t ready to go too short this might be the best choice for you.

Long and Straight

A long, straight style is always in – and if you aren’t ready to commit to shorter hair, we get it! This style works. As you age, though, the needs of your hair change. Be sure to use anti-frizz products to keep your mane tame, and a good shampoo and conditioner to keep it sleek and smooth. This style goes with anything we could want to wear and works for any occasion.

 

Your 40’s are said to be some of the best years of your life. Why not have the best hairstyle for you, and do what you love? Wear your hair the way you love it, and do what makes you happy. Turning 40 doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your hair. You can wear any style you like – with a few age appropriate modifications, you can still look youthful and vibrant no matter what. When in doubt, seek a professional stylist’s opinion and you will be well on your way to fabulous hair in your forties.