Four years into the new ’20s, the quintessential Jazz Age aesthetic is finally making a comeback. Of course, it was reconsidered.
A burgeoning trend has imbued recent runways with a spirit of old-school, irreverent glamor. Feathers, fringes and flowing flounces bring his 1920s vibe to Ferragamo’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection, and his creative director Maximilian Davies has called this decade of his fashion a celebration of freedom. At Simone Rocha, fine brows were featured in floral prints, while on the Marni runway, bleached brows were replaced with arched pencil contours.
Add to that the heavy vamp noir lips featured in Valentino’s Spring 2024 haute couture show, and it’s safe to say 1920s detailing is back in a big way. (There were also nods to this era in the doll-like makeup that his makeup artist Pat McGrath wore for his spring 2024 haute couture look at Margiela.)
Looking back, we see an era worthy of a revamped reboot, where our collective desire for dimly lit, intimate establishments (or at least the ambience that goes with them) is complemented by a commensurate beauty.
jazz age aesthetics
“When you think of Jazz Age beauty, the words sumptuous, bold, and glamor immediately come to mind,” says makeup artist Benjamin Packey, who cites Clara Bow and Josephine Baker as epitomes of this glamorous aesthetic. I am. “Think bold matte lips, meticulously penciled eyebrows slanted slightly downward toward the tips to create a melancholy appeal, and cheeks rosy shades of red and pink. .”
For makeup artist Donnie Davey, the new Jazz Age has all the inspiration of the original, plus an added edge. “I’m thinking about being a creature of the night, dancing, getting messy, being flashy, and other hedonistic things,” she says of the vibe of her newest jazz bar. These features are best expressed with a smudged noir lip and plenty of glitter.
“The 1920s look was all about hard lip lines, and a diffused dark lip is a gorgeous way to modernize a look,” says Davey. “I would definitely go for a black, smudged, smoked-out eye with glitter,” she says, and her own Half Magic Glitter Pill Eye Paint and eyeliner offer a worthy option. “In my opinion, the low-light glitter of the Jazz Age is basically what glitter was made for.”
Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” music video takes an ambitious take on this type of scintillation, with McGrath creating 30 jewel-encrusted eye moments. “Every color and shade of crystal, different wing shapes, different ombre gradients, and my go-to mothership eye. He tried every kind of eyeshadow in the palette,” McGrath says. The result is a wealth of inspiration, perfect for honing your own look for the 2020s, whether you prefer a collection of colorful gemstones like onyx cat eyes touched by clear crystals or eye-coverings. You can get a good source of information.
If glitter isn’t your thing, you can achieve a similar effect with metallics. Packy suggests incorporating gold and silver into your eye makeup approach, topping your shadow with eye gloss for added shine, and finishing with spidery lashes. “Another idea is to try colors like emerald green or navy blue to create a striking eye that evokes the luxury of the jazz age,” he says. .
What’s his pro tip? A generous layer of kohl liner complements shadows, pulling and smudging along the lashes and waterline. Along with lip liner and vampy shades (high gloss, matte, and shimmer finishes are all welcome), highlighting a cupid’s bow will heighten the vintage vibe, as will a saturated swirl of blush.
1920s hair
The beauty of a jazz bar extends to the hair as well. “The vintage side of her jazz hair that’s due for a revival is a sculptural updo that incorporates wet-set type techniques. This is one of my favorites,” says hairstylist Eva Niefraust says. Lure’s Spring 2024 Show.
“I also love a very sculptural, little snatch-back style,” says Frausto, who reaches for Bumble and Bumble’s Bb Gel for those sleek, sophisticated moments.
renaissance of the 20s
Above all, vintage jazz aesthetics should feel luxurious, stylized, and special. From jewel tones to literal gems, wet-look lengths to ruddy curls, incorporating notes of the 1920s into your 2020s look is all about channeling irreverent glamor in an accessible way. A simple swipe of glitter is a feat. Consider even the most subtle references as a visual means of escapism. This is also a feature of the original era. As Packy says, “Jazz’s beauty of his age is like a playful vacation.”