I'm not going to lie, I have spent most of this social distancing period, binge-watching America's Next Top Model (I've already watched cycles 1-9 and have no intention of stopping until I get to 22). I mean, what's a better distraction than Tyra Banks giving a bunch of catty girls a chance to live their supermodel dreams? Nothing, in my opinion! My favorite cycles are 5-9 because they included one of my favorite icons in existence, Twiggy. Now, if you don't know who Twiggy is, let me enlighten you on this high fashion fairytale.
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Lesley Hornby who was just an average teenage girl growing up in the suburbs of London. Around the age of fifteen, she began to play around with makeup. She soon had adapted a signature look that included glamourous false lashes and painted on bottom lashes underneath her eyes. Also, around that time she had been nicknamed Twiggy due to her long and thin physique. When a friend of a friend suggested that she get photos taken, it led her to meet two modern day fairy godfathers, a hairdresser and a photographer. Hairdresser Leonard of Leonard's Hair Salon, gave Twiggy short and trendy hair. He set her up with photographer, Barry Lategan. Leonard put up the stunning shots of Twiggy in his salon. This led to her discovery by the fashion editor of the Daily Express Newspaper, Deirdre McSharry, and thus, as Tyra Banks says every panel, a "fashion icon and living legend" was born.
I adore Twiggy and always wanted to recreate the very photo that made her famous, so I've decided to take a break from my binge, and do just that...
I started with my hair. Now one thing I'm lacking is Twiggy's trendy short locks. In fact, my hair is longer than it's ever been. I did, however, know that I could rock a side-part (I used to be a hard side-part girl, until I discovered that middle parts are life changing), so I parted my hair from left to right. I then put it into a low ponytail to create the illusion of shorter hair.
With my hair secured, on moved on to makeup. I started with applying my foundation, BareMinerals Original Foundation in Fair 01, in a circular motion. I then used NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer in Porcelain to cover my dark under eye circles, and blemishes. I skipped blush, highlighter, and lipstick because other than her amazing eye makeup her face looks rather bare in the photographic. I did put on a little chapstick to make my lips look a little softer. Next, I filled in my eyebrows using The Maybelline Tattoo Studio Brow Promenade in Blonde. Twiggy's brows have a thinner, more arched shape than mine, but I decided to fill my brows in their natural shape. I decided I wanted the focus of the photo to be nailing Twiggy's iconic lashes, so I kept my eyeshadow look simple. Using the Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette from Too Faced I spread the shade heaven over my entire lid. Then, I used the shade Less Is More to fill in my crease.
Finally came the most important step, the eyelashes. I started by lining my upper lashes with the Too Faced Better Than Sex Liquid Eyeliner. I avoided added any #extra drama like a cat eye, though I was tempted to do so. Sadly, I left all my false eyelashes in NYC, when I fled due to this pandemic, so I had to work with what I had. I applied coat after coat of Better Than Sex Mascara by Too Faced to my upper lashes, and just when I thought I had enough, I added another coat. To finish, I used my same eyeliner to draw on bottom lashes. Each line I drew got longer and thicker as I made it to the outside of my lower lid.
For my selfie style photoshoot, I threw on a black mock turtleneck, and took the photo in black and white, so it would look similar to the very photo that made Twiggy famous. While taking my photo, I realized why Twiggy graced many Vogue covers. Taking a photo straight on, with this look is no easy task, but finally I got my photo.
This post has no real conclusion other than the fact that Twiggy is a legend, and I highly recommend binging ANTM on Hulu while you practice social distancing. Also, please stay safe, stay inside, and wash your hands.
XOXO,
Kristin
Twiggy's Bio: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-twiggy-became-swinging-londons-favorite-supermodel-1537281038
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