24/7 LiveChicago & Suburban Cook Co.North SuburbsWest SuburbsSouth SuburbsNW Indiana

PHOTOS: 100 years of Italian beauty in a minute

Friday, July 17, 2015
Mariano-Fortuny, who Cut called the most influential icon of Italian beauty in the 1910s, drew inspiration from Greece. Here that's reflected by loose curly hair and gentle makeup.
The look for the 1920s was inspired by Elsa Schiapparelli, a designer who rejected traditional feminine beauty in favor of a more modern look with strong brows and a boyish hairdo.
Several beauty products became popular in the 1930s with the rise of glamour in Italy. Eyebrows were thinned and lashes were made longer.
The idea of beauty in Italy was simplified to be more sensible during World War II, when a number of women enlisted to fight in the resistance movement.
The 1950s saw the rise of Italian fashion led by Emillio Pucci. Minimal emphasis was placed on makeup and hair so as not to distract from the clothes.
Valentino, known for his galmorous, showy style, dominated Italian fashion in the 1960s. He dressed stars like Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy, Cut noted.
Makeup and hairstyle were again influenced by fashion in the 1970s, this time the bright colors of designer Missoni. The long hairstyle mirroed the silhouettes he made popular.
Versace influenced Italian beauty in the 1980s, emphasizing long, straight hair, garish makeup and brightly colored nails.
Armani inspired popular looks in the 1980s. His signature style is an effortless cool, including deliberately messy hair and minimal makeup.
Quintessentially Italian -- that's how Cut describes Dolce and Gabbana, who were popular by the early 2000s. High buns and sexy red lips are used as symbols of Italian beauty.
''Ugly is the new pretty,'' Cut writes, adding that Prada, the inspiration for the 2010s look, was influenced by the boyish look of the 1920s.
1 of 11
Mariano-Fortuny, who Cut called the most influential icon of Italian beauty in the 1910s, drew inspiration from Greece. Here that's reflected by loose curly hair and gentle makeup.
Cut Video/YouTube
Report a correction or typo
Watch Live
ON NOW

Top Stories

Ceremonies, parades across Chicago area marking Memorial Day

  • 2 minutes ago

Boy, 2, who fatally shot himself in Pullman ID'd

Thieves smash into South Side business, steal from ATM: CPD

Man charged in murder of 74-year-old on South Side: CPD

  • 1 hour ago

Teens among 22 shot in Chicago Memorial Day weekend shootings: CPD

  • 1 hour ago

Body of missing KY college student found: Police

  • 31 minutes ago

Man dies after falling from bridge downtown Chicago: CPD

Charges filed against NW Indiana police chief arrested in Ohio

ABC7 Chicago
Topics
HomeWeatherTrafficWatchPhotosApps
Regions
Chicago & Suburban Cook Co.North SuburbsWest SuburbsSouth SuburbsNW Indiana
More Content
Local NewsU.S. & WorldI-TeamPoliticsEntertainmentConsumer & Business
Company
About ABC7 ChicagoABC7 Newsteam BiosCommunity JournalismTV ListingsAccessibilityEmploymentContests, Promotions & RulesCommunity
Privacy Policy
Your Privacy Choices
Children's Privacy Policy
Your US State Privacy Rights
Terms of Use
Interest-Based Ads
Public Inspection File
FCC Applications
Copyright © 2026 ABC, Inc., WLS-TV Chicago. All Rights Reserved.