FASHION Magazine

Photography by Peter Stigter.

Taking its cue from Tinseltown once again, the minds behind fashion and beauty trends for Fall 2007 sent models down the catwalk looking as though they’d stepped out of a George Hurrell photograph. At Valentino, Gucci and Roberto Cavalli, the look was all red lips, strong brows, precise liner, wavy tresses and complexion perfection.

“Cavalli reminisced about 1940s Old Hollywood—a time when masculinity was introduced into the Western female’s genre, creating beautifully simplistic, strong, feminine looks,” explains Lisa Butler, the makeup artist behind the Italian designer’s show. “Veronica Lake was iconic of this period, not just for creating a trend of peekaboo hairstyles, but also because she captivated audiences with her sultry, strong, glossy makeup look. I chose her as my inspiration because of this.”

Who wouldn’t want to channel Hollywood glamour goddesses such as Lake, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner and the like? Even today’s stars are hopping on the trend, both on- and off-screen—take Scarlett Johansson in The Black Dahlia or at the Golden Globes, for one. The look was so strong in The Good German that you knew Cate Blanchett’s lips were red, even though the movie was shot in black and white. Jennifer Connelly and Penélope Cruz have all sported the look.

This December, Keira Knightley will show her 1940s face in the highly anticipated film Atonement. Keeping up such a polished appearance may seem like too much bother in these times of quick fixes, but with a stroke of red across the lips or a hit of charcoal on the eyelid, anyone can summon her inner Lauren Bacall—and keep her cool, no matter what the day may bring.

GUCCI Fall 2007.

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