What, to you, is glamour/glamorous?

[Laura Hunt]

Apologies if this is already a thread, I did a search with no results.

What qualities constitute glamour to you? And I'm talking both outwardly and inwardly. Is the golden era inherently glamorous? What, specifically? Are there any characters in classic film that you think are inherently glamorous? Why? What makes them so? Very interested in everyone's opinions about this.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Real glamour makes no apparent effort at being glamourous. If you're obviously trying, it isn't working.

 

[Alice~]

Real glamour makes no apparent effort at being glamourous. If you're obviously trying, it isn't working.

I agree with this. I also think people must be comfortable with themselves and their appearance to appear glamorous - or at least give the impression that they are.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Another good rule is that glamour is not the same thing as "sexy." Glamour, in fact, is all about icy aloofness, not "smokin' hawtness"

 

[W-D Forties]

...or looking like a porn star.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Glamour? Today? Dita Von Teese, even when clothed.

Who? Is she on TV or something?

 

[LizzieMaine]

All I can say is, if she keeps standing like that she's gonna have a heck of a backache in the morning.

 

[sheeplady]

She's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. With reactions like yours, why should Dita (or any other woman) even bother to be glamorous?

I think that Lizzie's comment was meant to be tongue in cheek and in humor. We all have different visions of glamour- while a lot of people might find Dita to be glamorous, others wouldn't. It's not like everyone here would agree on a single definition, yet along a long list of people.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm being sarcastic, as if you didn't know, in an arch Jean Arthurish manner. There's a whole thread for discussion of Miss Von T, and bringing her up in threads not specifically devoted to her tends to derail the conversation into love-her/hate-her/couldn't-care-less-about-her. No need to do that in this thread.

For what it's worth, I've always gotten a "trying too hard" sense from her -- she's very good at what she does, but you never lose sight of the fact that it's performance for her. Glamour should at least seem effortless. Garbo was glamourous. Dita is a showgirl.

(And I bet she does get a backache standing like that.)

 

[rue]

I agree with Lizzie. Dita is a polished picture, not glamourous.

Honestly, I can't think of one famous woman today that would be considered to have actual glamour. Sex appeal, yes, but that's it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

That's how a man sees it. A woman will likely see it differently. Unless you're arguing the purpose of glamour is to serve the male gaze?

 

[scottyrocks]

In the golden era it was glamor. The GE was glamorous. Today is just glam - a pale imitation of glamor.

This is glamorous:

Glamor was a natural state of extreme beauty back then, an inner feeling. It was graceful beauty with no ulterior motives. In-your-face-sex was not a part of the equation.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Lemme let you boys in on a little secret: a lot of us don't dress to please anyone but ourselves.

As for glamour, I stick to what I said at the very beginning: if you're trying to be glamourous, you aren't. To be DITA, for example, Dita has to put on her Dita hair, and put on her Dita face, and put on her Dita clothes, and get in her Dita car and drive to her Dita public appearance, and wave to her Dita public.

On the other hand, to be GARBO, all Garbo had to do was throw on an old overcoat and a floppy hat and a pair of dark glasses and go down to the corner to get a Daily News and a pack of cigarettes -- it didn't matter what she did or what she wore. She was GARBO. That's real glamour.

 

[LizzieMaine]

We clearly define glamour differently. And since this thread is directed primarily at the women of the Lounge and not the men, why don't you gents take a seat in the back there, and let's let the women of the Lounge speak up and see how they define it.

 

[ThemThereEyes]

I agree, most of us dress for ourselves.
Glamour, to me, is an attractiveness through charm and something mysterious. That je ne sais quois that can only come naturally.

 

[lolly_loisides]

Apologies if this is already a thread, I did a search with no results.

What qualities constitute glamour to you? And I'm talking both outwardly and inwardly. Is the golden era inherently glamorous? What, specifically? Are there any characters in classic film that you think are inherently glamorous? Why? What makes them so? Very interested in everyone's opinions about this.

Like other posters I believe that glamour is something that should be effortless - and it can apply to women & men. In terms of actors of the 30's & 40's I say Ann Dvorak or Warren William easily can be defined as glamorous. Was the Golden Era inherently glamorous - of course not, it was like every other era, diverse. There are plenty of golden era movies that come to mind that aren't the least bit glamorous.

... which begs the question: if absolutely no men were around to see them, would women still make the effort to be glamorous?

You're confusing glamour with sexual allure.

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

I don't think glamour is effortless- but it must appear to be effortless. Isn't there some old connotation to the word that implies bewitchment or enchantment? Some weird combination that makes you just want to be in the presence of this fabulous person? Of course, once they start actually talking, the glamour is often destroyed. Maybe that is why actors/actresses of the Golden Age seem to possess that "something". They were much more careful about controlling their image than modern celebrities. You could project your own desires on to them without being influenced by knowing anything about their real personalities.

 

[mariagarcia495]

All I can say is, if she keeps standing like that she's gonna have a heck of a backache in the morning.

I totally agree with you.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I don't think glamour is effortless- but it must appear to be effortless. Isn't there some old connotation to the word that implies bewitchment or enchantment? Some weird combination that makes you just want to be in the presence of this fabulous person? Of course, once they start actually talking, the glamour is often destroyed. Maybe that is why actors/actresses of the Golden Age seem to possess that "something". They were much more careful about controlling their image than modern celebrities. You could project your own desires on to them without being influenced by knowing anything about their real personalities.

Again, the example of Garbo comes to mind -- tantalizing glimpses, not full-on reveals. Glamour depends on being enigmatic. It isn't something that can be dished up on a plate like macaroni and cheese.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Glamour, to me, is unrealistic and unachieveable. Both outward an inward. The example of Garbo is a good one because I think she's glamourous onscreen, but not so much off. Also Dita having to put on all her "Dita" things to be glamourous is also what I would define as glamourous. To me, there is something about "trying too hard" when it comes to glamour, but that's not quite the word I'm looking for. Maybe "unrealistic" -- the word I used earlier is probably the right word.

Kay Francis and Lilyan Tashman are the closest things to real, pure glamour in my opinion. Clara Bow, while I love her to bits, is not glamourous in my book. Nor are the Lane sisters. Those women are quite "earthy" to me and I could imagine "hanging out" with them. Kay and Lilyan would not associate with me and that makes them glamourous, also. This isn't a bad thing -- it's just how *I* PERSONALLY define glamour!