Contemporary Elizabethan Hairstyles

Recycling old fashions has been around for years, so its no surprise that even today we see hints of the Elizabethan era in our hairstyles. Every fashion has a inspiration. For instance it can be seen in these two images, the original is Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961, she’s wearing a timeless up do. Secondly there is a photo of Natalie Portman in Givenchy’s original Holly Golightly dress in the September 2006 issue for Harper’s Bazaar. Although not an exact replica you can appreciate the similarities and how this could be seen as a modern interpretation. Many stylist and designers will do this in their work, and it is a skill within the industry to be able to revitalise a vintage look.

Breakfast At Tiffany's Audrey Hepburn

Harper's Bazaar September 2006 issue, Natalie Portman

Until studying Elizabethans I hadn't realised how many contemporary photographers, stylists and make up artists use this look in their modern interpretations. These are a few that I found. 

In class we found that Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2013 collection had a Elizabethan feel to its hair and make up choices. Firstly the eyebrows were bleached out, which was a very popular look in Elizabethan times as the queen had fair eyebrows. They also used a popular technique from the Elizabethan era, where they would curl the hair, then pin the curls up so they would stay tight. Once the curl had cooled it would be brushed out to fluff out the curl and create a frizzy texture that was a popular trait in the Elizabethan era.

Oscar De La Renta catwalk look also had many similarities to the Elizabethan Era. The Model in this image has a vibrant, rich red hair, a colour that Elizabethans aspired to get as it was a natural quality of their queen. As well as this they have crimped the hair without using crimpers, using a technique that I will explain in a later post. To create the much loved frizz look they then brushed out the crimp, I feel this shouts Elizabethan hairstyle. 

Finally we looked at Beyonce in her o2 priority advert which was promoting her Mrs Carter Show World Tour. Beyonce is portrayed as a modern day queen, as to her fans she is known as Queen B, therefore this advert collaborates many traits of Queens over the years, including Queen Elizabeth. One of the elements that I think screams Elizabethan, is the portrait of Beyonce, as I think it combines many things we would link to the era. Not only is this within the clothing of ruffles, jewels and pearls, but also in the headdresses. This reminds me of Attifet, as it joins into a heart shape on the head, it also is accompanied by a crimp styling at the front of the hair.

Her hair during the main bulk of the advert also has Elizabethan qualities, the curls are very tight and the overall hair is quite frizzy. Although it doesn’t take the shape Elizabethans would of usually made it still has a strong structure like they would have had when using padding and the “rats” in their hair during that time.

When looking for my own contemporary Elizabethan hairstyles, I looked back on my pinterest on my photography board to see if there were any shoots on there that replicated this era. I found three beautiful images that I feel all fully link to the era, unfortunately I could not find who designed or photographed these images. The first is a clear replica of the Elizabethan times, with a heart shaped hair do that uses the deep red shades that we would link to Queen Elizabeth. There is also a link to the make up of the time, by using a pale face the red really stands out. They’ve even included pearls within the hairstyle, however the Elizabethans would have had these worked into the hairstyle rather than laid across the hair. 

The second image is an adaptation of Alice In Wonderland, however I feel it has some Elizabethan qualities within the hair. In Elizabethan times it was popular to involve accessories such as pearls into their hairstyles, much like they have in this image. They have done this by incorporating the pearls into a plait, which was also a popular look during this era and one that I would like to bring into my own work. Finally the hair is very obviously a deep shade of red, a color the Elizabethans favoured. 

The Final image incorporates many of the looks I have been doing in my practical lessons. I first noticed the incorporation of pearls within the hair, make up and costume, pearls were a popular accessory during the Elizabethan Era. The curls are also very tight and have been lifted over the head to create a bit of height. To finish of the look they have used a plait to crown the forehead, plaits were a popular way of sprucing up a hairstyle in Elizabethan times.

I am going to look further into contemporary Elizabethan hairstyles by looking at photographers and catwalk shows. I already have a few in mind such as Chanel and Alexander McQueen, who I know bring in historical aspects to their work.