The Westmore Beauty Books
I love finding beauty books that are inspiring and full of pretty ideas, don’t you?! I’m rather picky about my books – I don’t like coming across content that doesn’t seem appropriate or that talks about wild and crazy “beauty” suggestions. To me being attractive isn’t about how outlandish or eye-catching you can be, it’s about elegance. Definitely wear lipstick that pops or eye makeup with a bit of a cat-eye look – that is lovely! But don’t try to tell me how edgy blue lipstick is – that’s just plain awful!
Today I want to share the Westmore Beauty Books with you! They are just lovely! Though they were published in 1947 and 1956, they are still full of applicable ideas and advice! Elegant makeup and classic style is timeless and beautiful!
The Westmore’s were makeup artists in Hollywood. Interestingly, Westmore Sr. was the first to establish a permanent make-up department in the motion picture industry! He was the first to lay down fundamental principles governing the application of make-up as a means of dramatizing the personality and enhancing a woman’s charm.
“Since the sole purpose of make-up is to either accentuate natural beauty or to create natural looking beauty, the secret of successful make-up is naturalness….makeup should hide weak points while accentuating and revealing each strong point, whether it be the eyes, the lips, the cheeks or the shape of the face as a whole.”
The books are full of illustrations of “Wrong” or “Correct” looks for face types, hair styles, glasses frames, etc. There is so much fun information in these books!
The books have lovely “how-to” illustrations for optimum makeup application!
One of my very favorite things from these books is the list of advice they give in summary at the end of the 1947 book – it is quite inspiring!
- Take pride in your appearance and always be well-groomed.
- Believe in yourself and in other people.
- Be considerate.
- Be sincere.
- Forget yourself and start thinking of others.
- Never indulge in idle gossip.
- Avoid all but constructive worry.
- Be honest with yourself and with everyone else.
- Be quick to pay compliments but never to flatter.
- Never cause other people to feel small and inferior.
- Never indulge in sarcasm.
- Cultivate enthusiasm.
- Avoid arguments.
- If timid and self-effacing, face and master the things you fear.
- Always look other people straight in the eye.
- Resolve to succeed at whatever you do. Think in terms of success, not failure.
- Be relaxed and poised in the presence of others and don’t fidget.
- Don’t sprawl in your chair with your legs apart. If you must cross your legs, cross them at a point where your calf will not bulge. Don’t wear a skirt that rides up and exposes your upper thigh.
- Avoid quarrels.
- Learn to love the people around you and never tire of trying to make them happy.
- Banish jealousy, envy, hatred, fear and other negative emotions from the mind.
- Smile – from the heart.
- Look happy and be happy.
- Always remember that there is a connection between beauty, health and goodness.
- Remember that there is beauty in simplicity – of thought, word, deed and personal appearance.
- Cultivate the reading habit so that you can talk intelligently on current topics.
- Always speak in a soft tone of voice.
- Remember always that love is one of the great secrets of charm.
Aren’t those lovely?!
Isn’t it fun to determine your face shape, skin type, eye shape, etc?! (You should try doing it with a friend – you can vote on each others shapes and types!) Can you recommend a beauty book that you have enjoyed? Share it below!
Until Next Time!
Hope.