Taking inspiration from equal parts Marilyn Monroe and the perfectly-coiffed pin-up models, a neutral eye, matte skin, red lips, and a structured hairstyle was a standard look throughout the ’40s and ’50s. I began with the face and applied a full-coverage matte foundation, then used the shimmer-free colors from Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette ($29) to sculpt out the eye, making sure the darker colors were concentrated on the outer portion. Instead of finding a liner to match Chanel's Coromandel Lipstick ($35), I used a trick I picked up from celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose — apply it straight from the tube, blend it out with a brush, correct any smudges around the perimeter with concealer, then re-apply another layer of lipstick with the same brush. With NARS Cosmetics Matte Multiple in Anguilla ($39) placed and blended on my cheeks, I moved on to the hair, which was really the hardest part of the entire process.
Pro tip: A victory roll updo works best on unwashed hair, which has more grip, so attempting to do this on clean, blown-out hair was quite the process. If you’re like me and shampooed the night before, spray on a little texturizer before you start. Take a large-barrel curling iron and curl both portions at the front of your head toward the back. Pin both in place to completely set, just as they did back in the day, and work on adding movement to the rest of your lengths as the clipped areas cool. Take the section on the left side of your head and wind the curl into itself until a rolled shape is created, then anchor to your head with bobby pins. Once it’s in place, you can reshape it to your liking. On the opposite side of your head, unclip the curled section, roll it inwards toward your head, and clip into place.
