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Who doesn’t love a vintage wedding? Burlap bunting, rustic wooden signs, birdcages, and old bottles are some of the cutest and effective decorations for achieving that fairy-tale retro wedding day.
Of course, what ties the whole vision together is your look. While you may have picked out that perfect vintage dress that had your whole entourage crying in the shop and your accessories could easily be mistaken for the family heirlooms, you can easily dampen that theme you worked so hard for by forgetting your makeup!
More specifically, your eye makeup and lashes. While every lindy-hop lover knows to invest in the perfect rouge lippy and all you art-deco divas know the exact shade of blush to look like Daisy Buchanan.
But, have you thought about those lashes? Baby doll strip lashes are a must-have for a lot of brides and we don’t blame them. Not only do they achieve something our natural beauty could only ever dream of, but they also eradicate the need for too much mascara. Essential for all those happy tears on your big day!
Eyelash trends have fluctuated over the last few centuries and if you are planning a themed day, you must nail the right style so everything is as consistent as you wanted it to be.
Early 1900’s
The Georgians were the first to see the invention of the false eyelash. Actress Seena Owen made them desirable to the masses in the film Intolerance.
If you are wanting to recreate this look, remember that falsies were still very much in the early stages of development. So while long eyelashes were the rage, they hadn’t quite cottoned onto the thicker, fuller fan yet.
When choosing your wedding day strip lashes, don’t go for that Kim K look that is everywhere, it could give you a modern feel and ruin that vintage vibe of the rest of your outfit.
Stick to thinner, longer lashes with a bit of subtlety.
The Roaring ‘20s
This decade, lashes start to become thicker so you can be a little more adventurous with your lashes if you are having a Gatsby-esque wedding. Team with smokey eyeliner for that fitting flapper fashion.
If you want to be as genuine as possible with your ‘20s theme, a style highly associated with this decade is beaded lashes. Back then, they used tiny droplets of melted cosmetic plastic or wax to apply to the end of eyelashes.
Instead of risking your eyeballs, you could buy a pair of strip lashes with these already applied. They are subtle from afar but they do make a 1920’s outfit appear that much more authentic.
1930’s Allure
In the ‘30s, makeup was making a dramatic change and the introduction of gold and silver eyeshadows on the high-street meant women wanted an eyelash to match this glamourous new style.
Length and volume do play a role but the most prominent feature of these lashes was the curl.
Eyelash curlers had made their way into the mainstream in this decade and women around the world were taking full advantage of them.
When choosing your strip lashes, focus on the curl more than anything. If you are struggling, you can always choose a generic pair and curl them yourself with a heated eyelash curler and apply ample mascara or fixing gel to keep them in place.
1940’s
By the ‘40s, the idea of producing false eyelashes was deemed wasteful and materials were being put to better use.
Many countries were struggling to import cosmetics so women had to make do with what they could find. Home-made mascaras were all the rage, but even with these home recipes, they were used in moderation for fear of running out.
That’s why a more natural look for your eyelashes would suit a 1940’s wedding. This theme is growing in popularity and is one of the most common vintage themes for weddings nowadays.
That doesn’t mean you can’t wear a pair of strip lashes though! There are plenty of natural-looking ones out there.
Try to find eyelashes that match your eyelash colour, if these aren’t available, find a light mascara and coat the false eyelashes in it to blend in with your natural lashes.
Fabulous ‘50s
This decade is when we saw a change in lashes and you must nail this look if you are planning a 1950’s wedding.
The doe eye style was all the rage and no fashion-conscious women would dare leave her home without fixing her eyes.
The cat-eye made its debut and it is still one of the most favoured looks 7 decades later. The emphasis is on all the wings on your lashes.
Fanned lashes are a must-have but what you need to look out for is a dramatic ‘wing’. This is when the false eyelashes grow in an obvious gradient from the inner corner to the outer edge.
The outer corner should have a dramatic length and looking ‘natural’ is the last thing you should be thinking about.
Swinging ‘60s
You can’t mention 1960’s fashion without thinking of those iconic ‘Twiggy’ lashes. If you are planning a wedding around this decade, the bigger, longer and fuller, the better!
When searching for the right style, look for the lash clusters to be big and more spaced out, think ‘spider lashes’.
Why stop at one pair? Double up for a striking eye and if you want to channel your inner Cher, use some on your bottom lash as well.
If you are going all-in with the flower power groove, choose a pair of funky colored lashes and double them with black, you can even go for a color to match your bridesmaid dresses or your flowers.
Mastering your eyelashes for your vintage theme will not only tie your vision together but will ensure you look your best on your big day. If you are planning to apply these yourself, make sure you practice in the weeks leading up to the wedding day and get a few spare pairs just in case.
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