Where Has All the Hollywood Glamour Gone? - Beauty Shall Save the World

Now that the red carpet has been rolled up and life is back to “normal” in Hollywood, I must confess that I was underwhelmed by the presentation of the celebrities this year.

Is it my imagination, or did the stars of yesteryear look so much more glamourous than our current crop of It Girls and Ingénues? Nowadays celebrities just aren’t what they used to be. Wouldn’t it be nice to see something completely unique and awe-inspiring? Where has all the glamour gone?

Here is a tribute to old Hollywood glamour and the stars that sparkled so beautifully bright, with shiny lips and glossy hair, dripping in dazzling jewels.

I’m also including my “Red Carpet Wish List”–elements of style that I’m hoping to see on celebrities at the Academy Awards next year…Some of the ideas are old and some are new, but all are glamourous. Let’s bring back the glamour!

Red Carpet Wish #1: The Tiara

When Elizabeth Taylor’s third husband, Mike Todd, gave her this tiara, he told Elizabeth, “‘You’re my queen, and I think you should have a tiara,'” Taylor wrote in her book A Life in Jewelry. “I wore it for the first time when we went to the Academy Awards. It was the most perfect night, because Mike’s film Around the World in 80 Days won for Best Picture. It wasn’t fashionable to wear tiaras then, but I wore it anyway, because he was my king.”

What would Breakfast at Tiffany’s have been without Audrey Hepburn and her trademark tiara?

Red Carpet Wish #2: The Power of Pearls…& Other Diamond Alternatives

Every woman on the red carpet wore diamonds, but we would like to see some creativity!

There are many gems to choose from but I have always had a weakness for the precious pearl. How would the mass of pearls above have looked on Jennifer Lawrence in that fabulous Christian Dior gown? Splendid!

The presence of her gown was large and eclipsed the dainty diamond necklace that she wore draped backward. In fact, you can’t even capture the necklace in a photo because it is so small.

Larger ornamentation, like the tangled bunch of pearls designed by Vera Wang was necessary and would have looked divine with Jen’s Dior.

Above, Elizabeth Taylor wears her emerald jewels with the brooch decorating her updo. Wouldn’t such accessories look spectacular on Charlize or Angelina, with their gorgeous green eyes? And look at the tiny ribcage on Elizabeth. You certainly don’t see that on today’s actresses. That’s one thing that their money simply cannot buy!

Ava Gardner is draped in sapphires, a white fox stole, and an exquisite blue gown that defies description. The gloves, the clutch, the jewels…not a hair is out of place. Furthermore, her posture and stance are the epitome of elegance. Take note, celebs: this is glamour!

Red Carpet Wish #3: The Glamour of Gloves

Short or long, the glamour of gloves is undeniable. I haven’t seen them on anyone for a while now. Is it time to bring gloves back? I think so!

Grace Kelly wears a taffeta wrap and short gloves. What a lady.

Ava Gardner, once again the epitome of elegance, wearing opera length gloves.

Red Carpet Wish #4: Coiffed Hair

There’s a time and place for everything. The Red Carpet dictates elegance and style. Too many women were wearing their hair shaggy and disheveled. Celebrities in decades past were coiffed when they wore couture, and they looked fab.

Red Carpet Wish #5: Show-Stopping Vintage Gowns

The dresses on the Red Carpet were all very similar, but in differing colors and with slight details. I did not see a single vintage gown this year. Am I mistaken?

I would love to see some show-stopping vintage gowns, like the ones below, from an era where tailoring and fit were of paramount importance and each gown was completely unique. The celebrities–and their accompanying fashions–just aren’t what they used to be!

Anne Hathaway looked stunning in vintage Valentino, above, last year. Just look at the fit on this gown!

Julia Roberts walked away with a Best Actress and a most memorable gown, also vintage Valentino. It’s proof that haute couture transcends fads and good taste is timeless. Plus, you won’t see anything remotely like this on another woman. That’s the value of vintage!