Elizabeth the icon

I went to the library the other day and picked up ' The artificial face- a history of cosmetics' by fenja gunn. I spoke about it in another post, but today i had a chance to read more of the book.

It talks about how the trend of a pale complexion and 'red-gold hair' didnt actually begin with Elizabeth. Her Father, Henry VIII, eptomised the ideal masculine handsomeness.' It goes on to say how tudor feminine beauty was perfectly represented by this famous portrait of anne boleyn. 

Notice that she is wearing a hood to cover her hair and no make up. Up until Elizabeth's reign, women would sometimes have worn a light white powder, if anything at all. Make up didnt actually become fashionale or accessable until the Elizabethan era. From Elizabeth's coronation in 1559, she eptomised 'spirit of the age' and 'feminine allure'. She encouraaged art, fashion and make up and soon became a beauty icon, making ceruse, rouge and wigs sought after by all. ' It would be true to say that no single individual has ever exerted such an influence on the fashions and beauty of a period.' Even the classic ruff that we all associate with the era was reportadly originally brought over from spain, but Elizabeth was the first to wear it in England. It then became popular with all women, men and even children. 

pictures- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/anne_boleyn/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruff_%28clothing%29

All information and quotes: The artificial face- a history of cosmetics by Fenja Gunn. Printed in the UK. Published by Hippocrene Books in 1983