Glamour (presentation)
In the field of cultural studies, glamour is the impression of attraction or fascination that a particularly luxurious or elegant appearance creates, an impression which intensifies reality. Typically, a person, event, location, technology, or product such as a piece of clothing can be glamorous or add glamour. "Glamour" originally referred to a magic spell, an illusion said to be cast by witches.
Virginia Postrel says that for glamour to be successful it nearly always requires sprezzatura—an appearance of effortlessness, and to appear distant—transcending the everyday, to be slightly mysterious and somewhat idealised, but not to the extent it is no longer possible to identify with the person.[3] Glamorous things are neither opaque, hiding all, nor transparent showing everything, but translucent, favourably showing things.[4]
The early Hollywood star system in particular specialised in Hollywood glamour where they systematically glamorised their actors and actresses.[3]
Glamour can be confused with a style, which is adherence to a particular school of fashion, or intrinsic beauty; whereas glamour can be external and deliberate.
The "Golden Age" of the glamour in Hollywood was the 1930s and 1940s, following the depression and its aftermath.[5]
Hollywood studios presented their female stars in designer gowns and exquisite jewelry,[7] both on screen and in carefully orchestrated occasions for publicity. Joan Crawford is quoted to have said, "I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford, the movie star."[8]
Photography was shot in rooms that had been specially painted to flatter the skin tone of the actors and actresses, and attention was paid to hair and clothes.[3] Notably this was successfully done with:
Photography[edit]
Glamour photography is the photographing of a model with the emphasis on the model and the model's sexuality and allure; with any clothing, fashion, products or environment contained in the image being of minor consideration. Photographers use a combination of cosmetics, lighting and airbrushing techniques to produce the most physically appealing image of the model possible.