CONTEMPORARY ELIZABETHAN

Contemporary takes on the elizabethan era..

Illamasqua once collection

I found this contemporary version from Alex Box so beautiful, She was obviously heavily inspired by the Elizabethans which can be seen through the hair colour, outfit and makeup. I love how soft and feminine the images are. My favourite part of the whole look is that the skin is actually dewy and glowing and the eyes are dark. I love the fact the eyebrows are fair yet still visible and still give of the Elizabethan vibes. 

“old cannot exist without new, juxtaposition exalts the differences. She endures, her spirit is encapsulated, timeless and as present and as vital as the morning light, whilst everything around her gently decays. She feels both vintage yet with a modern vital spirit. Beauty endures.” Alex Box

Sheguang Hu’s s/s 2012

I couldn't find much information about Hu's collection at all. Although looking through his recent collection it is obvious he always wants to make a big statement. Nothing gives a good statement like the no eyebrow look, as not many people are used to seeing the face with no eyebrows. You can see he was inspired by the elizabethans the fact he has used huge neck frills and collars and blocking out the eyebrows and eyelashes with white makeup definitely shows some elizabethan influences. 

Alexander McQueen Fall 2014

Although there was no mention of Elizabethan inspiration in the fall collection I could definitely see some influences. For one, the eyebrows were blocked out creating the look of a high forehead, the cheeks were heavily blushed and the use of gold on the eyes definitely showed royalty. Also plaits were a huge thing in Elizabethan times and many women including Queen Elizabeth used initricate plaiting in their hairstyles. Sarah Burton said she wanted the whole look to be fairytale like with virginal smocks in broderie anglais. The virginal look was the look of the Tudor times and they have definitely somewhat took inspiration with the paleness of the face. 

"Wild beauty" was Sarah Burton's inspiration. She insisted she was over construction, corseting, control. "I wanted to see the woman's face again," she said. "Wild beauty" was Sarah Burton's inspiration. She insisted she was over construction, corseting, control. "I wanted to see the woman's face again," TIM BLANKS, VOGUE  

Vogue Russia- December 2010 

I couldnt find any information at all on the editorial from Vogue Russia but I did find out the photographer was Sharif Hamza. After looking at his other images he always takes quite striking, dark, dramatic images. I love the way this Elizabethan themed shoot is quite dark and gothic and the clothing is very structured. The lacks of eyebrows and dark lips is a beautiful look and showed referencing from the Tudor times. Also the costumes and crowns definitely represented Elizabethans. I love the dark lips and hair that is used on the last image I think it gives a very contemporary look to the image yet still shows inspiration through the plaited hair, no eyebrows and clothing.