Hollywood Glamour at Somerset House
Every summer Somerset House screen a range of classic films in their outdoor courtyard, and you have to be quick to snap up tickets! When Sarah and I saw they were showing Marilyn at her finest in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes we were too slow in scoring tickets, but settled for a Behind The Screen talk on Hollywood Glamour and Make-Up. These series of talks are pre-film lectures for people who want to know more about the movie they may (or may not) be about to see. There are some fantastic ones on offer, including talks from brilliant directors like Richard Ayoade, each of them offering you an insight into the films you love.
The Hollywood Glamour talk was designed to complement Gentleman Prefer Blondes. Weirdly, it was sponsored by Heineken, and as nice as free beer is, it didn't have a glamourous or Marilyn association (go for prosecco every time!). Sarah and I were joined by fellow bloggers Lucy and Jayne, and we weren't sure what to expect - we were kind of hoping for a practical demonstration. But it turned out to be an hour-long lecture with lots of photos of Hollywood's biggest lady-stars, whilst a head stylist from Nars talked us through how they did their make-up and which trends came and went.
It was very relaxing and informative, though a lot of it I already knew, and the speaker only marginally touched on the plastic surgery that ninety percent of the stars were made to have by the studios they signed to. I think some practical element would have been more fun, though I can see how it would have been tricky to do within an hour. Lucy had to head off, but Sarah, Jayne and I went to a nearby Mexican to talk some more about make-up and celebrity and feminism over margaritas. The conversation, of course, turned to blogging and the exciting things we are all working on. Head to Jayne's site to find out what the heck Qoya is, and take a look see at Sarah's brilliant new e-book Daydream Revolution - all about living magically! Hollywood Glamour ain't got nothing on blogger and tequila glamour!