CosBeauty Magazine #97

1920s 19
THEDA BARA
JOA
FEATURE
1920s, 30s & 40s
As the film industry began to blossom in
the 1920s, actress Theda Bara popularised
the doll-like shape and vampy lip colour of
the time. ‘Rosebud lips’ of deep red were
fashionable and popularised by pin-ups
such as Gloria Swanson and Clara Bow.
In the 1930s the natural lines of the lips
were accentuated with the upper lip being
wider than the lower. Joan Crawford,
renowned for her wide mouth, sported this
‘arrogant’ look – and by all accounts an
attitude to match. Marlene Dietrich in the
1940s also had an arrogant look, but the
40s somewhat reverted to the ‘cupid’s bow’
upper lip of the 20s, while keeping the
broader upper lip of the 30s. Judy Garland
had these lips accentuated with strong
colour and Ingrid Bergman wore hers with
a natural look. Red lipstick was the colour
of choice in the 1940s, thought to be
morale boosting during World War 2.