These photos of Elizabeth Taylor from the 1940s are some of my favorite photos of the blue eyed Hollywood bombshell. I just adore that she's doing quite simple things and while she still looks very glamorous, she also looks incredibly approachable and simple.

I so wish I knew who the original photographer was and year of these photos, if you do know, please share the info!


Photos are from Silver Screen Beauty Queen.

I recently stumbled upon a fantastic vintage fashion tumblr, Valentino Vamp and it is stocked full of amazing vintage photos of women mostly from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.


Actresses June Havoc and Helen Walker


Singers, The Andrew Sisters


1960s Actress, Scilla Gabel


1940s actress Hazel Brooks


Miss California beauty Pageant from the 1940s


The gorgeous actress Elaine Stewart


1940s actress Brenda Marshall

These women were total babes, weren't they? All images from Valentino Vamp

Rita Hayworth wasn't always the auburn haired sex symbol most famously remembered as being the vampy "Gilda", she was born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn to a flamenco dancer father and a Ziegfield girl dancer for a mother.

Margarita was put through an extensive makeover (her hairline was raised via a series of very painful electrolysis treatments...this was in the 40s folks!), asked to lose 30 lbs, and dye her naturally dark hair to auburn (she was also blonde and red haired at some points) and change her name so she sounded and looked less Latina.

And voila! A star is born!

I do realize the title of this post is a bit of a pun and it wasn't intentional, but I had a bit of a giggle about it so decided to keep the title name.

Anyhow... I was perusing for some hair ideas for this year's Halloween costume (I'm going as Betty Boop!) and happened upon all of these silent screen star actresses I had never heard of but were all so lovely I just had to share.


Perhaps November will be Silent Movie month and I'll finally get around to watching movies before the talkies.

"I have been very happy, very rich, very beautiful, much adulated, very famous and very unhappy." - Brigitte Bardot

Fashion influence: In fashion the Bardot neckline (a wide open neck that exposes both shoulders) is named after her. Bardot popularized this style which is especially used for knitted sweaters or jumpers although it is also used for other tops and dresses.

Fabulous vintage clothes, don't you think? Some of the costumes are so outlandish in the best sort of way! The "eyes" sweater for example... it's so interesting, I could easily see this being snapped up in a heart beat at a vintage shop.



Image screencap credits: Live Journal via Film Stills