Gatsby Glam or Cherry Mama Charm?
For brides wanting to achieve a vintage look from any era on their wedding day, Gina Ludwig from Hair Comes the Bride, reckons that “unless you are going for a full themed wedding, don’t overdo the era”. Instead, she suggests that you mix both vintage and modern elements into your look “so you don’t end up looking like you are going to a costume party instead of walking down the aisle!”.
Bearing this valuable piece of advice in mind, whether you’re looking to embody the simplicity and elegance of the 1920’s and 1930’s or the sweetheart and Hollywood starlet looks of the 1940’s and 1950’s, follow these expert tips to complete your vintage bridal look transformation. Get the vintage look, era by era with these fave trends from the twenties to the fifties!
1920’s to 1930’s: Vintage Bridal Trends
A Flapper’s Face
- Always line your lips well and keep your lipstick at hand for touch-ups when opting for the classic bright red lipstick – Miss Sanni Mai’s Makeup, France
- Use a lipstain instead of using a lipstick that will require skill to reapply. Rimmel’s 1000 Kisses, which also has a lip balm on the end, is perfect for wedding day touch-ups – Beauty Call, UK
- Highlight the tops of your cheekbones and sides of your temples by leaving them unpowdered to allow light to highlight them – Miss Sanni Mai’s Makeup, France
- Keep eyes smoky and sultry by using cool browns, mauves and soft grey or taupe colours instead of black tones – Beauty Call, UK
- Use a sheerer berry-stained lip instead of a heavy, matte burgundy lipstick – Miss Sanni Mai’s Makeup, France
Loving the bridal beauty style of the twenties and thirties? Follow these 15 Steps to Achieving the Perfect 1920′s /1930′s Vintage Bridal Look.
Curls and All that Jazz!
(Above) Styled by: Evy’s Beauty Parlour | Shot by: Damien Wild Photography
- Fingerwaves are best achieved by using hot rollers instead of wet setting to create a soft, slightly lifted wave that looks exquisite for brides – The Vintage Salon, UK
- Soften marcel waves by gathering the hair at the nape and pinning it into something similar to a soft bun. Draw inspiration from Ginger Rogers rather than Bugsy Malone – Beauty Call, UK
- Long Curls and Rolls at the back of the head are a great look for really long hair, which has often been sported in ‘Boardwalk Empire’ series – The Vintage Salon, UK
- Practise using rollers or hair tongs and pay attention to the ends of the hair so you create a good curl, which you can enhance by using mousse and hairspray for longevity – Pretty Me Vintage, UK
- Don’t be afraid to brush the curls until you get your desired shape – Pretty Me Vintage, UK
1940’s to 1950’s: Vintage Bridal Trends
Perfect Peepers, Meeow!
- The 1950’s is all about the dramatic eyes and bright lips on celebrities such as Kim Kardashian – Hair Comes the Bride, USA
- Keep your make-up looking clean with lots of lashes, groomed brows and red lipstick, which works well with the antique creams and soft whites of most bridal gowns – Lipstick & Curls, UK
- Team red lips with flicked black eyeliner on the top lid – Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour, UK
- Red lips are a striking and classic look of this time with a red colour to suit every bride. An apricot or coral shade also works well for a 1950s look – Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour, UK
Rock ‘n Victory Rolls!
Styled by: Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair & Beauty Parlour
- Always set hair first to achieve curls for vintage styling. These curls can then be shaped into the desired style much more easily than if working with straight hair – Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour, UK
- Incorporate your personality into your style by experimenting with height and fun Victory Rolls – Lipstick & Curls, UK
- A sweetheart look with victory rolls to the front and a large horizontal roll sitting just above the collar is a great 1940’s look – The Vintage Salon, UK
- Height at the very front of the head, reminiscent of Betty Grable, is very 1940s – Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour, UK
- Rolls and pompadours were very popular during the 1940s and so a half-up, half-down style with a rolled front is a lovely wartime look – Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour, UK
- Big rockabilly victory rolls with faux Bettie Bangs (large fake rolled fringes styled after the American pin-up icon, Bettie Page) or a coif at the front, and the ‘Marilyn’ curl set with the fabulous high coifed curl at the front of the hair, are the way to go for a 1950’s look – The Vintage Salon, UK
Big Bouncing Barrel Curls!
- Hair is full and soft with big barrel curls and lots of shape around the face – Lipstick & Curls, UK
- A classic set is a very elegant and classic style that can be 1940s or 1950s. This means setting the hair in either pincurls, rollers or by using curling tongs and brushing through to shape into a look that can be seen on stars such as Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake and Dita Von Teese – Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour, UK
- Soft Rita Hayworth waves are stunning if you’re wearing your hair down – The Vintage Salon, UK
Eager for more vintage beauty inspiration and advice? Grab these Vintage Bridal Hair & Make Up Tips {1920s to 1950s}