3 Reasons to be Inspired by Marlene Dietrich

I am constantly inspired by Marlene Dietrich, not only for the fashion and style she exuded, but the confidence she contained within herself to not allow social norms of the day to influence the way she wished to live to her life!

Marlene Dietrich was a style icon of her time. Born in 1901 Germany, where she started her career in silent films, Marlene hit the big time in Hollywood in the 1930’s. Her ‘exotic’ persona made her one of the highest paid actress of the era.

There are many, many very interesting facts about Marlene that all add to her story, but here are my personal top 3 reasons I gain constant inspiration from this style icon.

 

1. Pushing Gender Boundaries and Wearing Pants in Paris

“Women, wear pants in Paris at your risk and peril! You are breaking the law”, according to a 200-year-old police ruling that has never been struck from the books.

She was one of the first women to be wearing men’s trousers in public, and certainly the first to create such a buzz about the simple fashion item. She created so much hype around this, that she is often accredited with being the first.

“I wear them to be

 

comfortable,”

 

says Marlene, “not

 

sensational!”

She once told a reporter, “Glamour is what I sell, it’s my stock and trade” and she never disappointed. During the time of high fashion, feminine dresses, Marlene Dietrich cultivated her own style with her sultry look and androgynous wardrobe. “I dress for myself. Not for the image, not for the public, not for the fashion, not for men.”

She was certainly a woman ahead of her time, scandalizing the world with her sexual comments, rumours of bisexual love affairs and that undeniable Dietrich mystique. Weather shocked or excited, no one could take their eyes off her.

2. Possessions

Marlene died at the age of 90 in 1992, she never threw away anything, and apparently she believed in storage! Six storage companies, from New York to California, London to Pairs, housed possessions of her life that had been locked away for decades. After Marlene’s death, the articles were gathered together – in total 25,000 objects and 18,000 images! The vast majority of this collection was gifted to the FilmMuseum Berlin.

She kept everything, and through her possessions, it gives a unique look into her glamorous wardrobe and very full life over the decades.

 

3. Master and pioneer of beauty Illusions

What made Marlene so iconic were not only her stunning looks, but also her bold style. Aside from her bold lip colours, thin eyebrows, and deep eyeshadows, the actress was also known for breaking the traditional stereotypes.

During the filming of the 1944 film Kismet when Dietrich was 43, she had her makeup artists twist tiny strands of her hair around hairpins which were then pulled fiercely tight and fixed further back onto her head – sometimes with such determination they would draw blood.

In the 1940’s, cosmetic surgery was only beginning, so very few stars would dare risk having a full facelift. So Marlene Dietrich managed to create her own facelift by using the tools she had available on her movie set, such as the hairpins trick. She also created an anti-ageing trick, just by using a fine gold chain that would run under her chin, and behind her ears, so it was concealed by her hair. This chain would pull back any sagging skin and be held in to place, making her look decades younger.

A 1940s version of the so-called Croydon facelift, if you like.

Dietrich was also one of the first to use surgical tape to pull back the skin on her face, hiding the tape in her hairline or under a wig (and also used it when wearing strapless gowns to create a bra).

Dietrich’s famous cheekbones are also rumoured to have had a helping hand too. It is said the star had her molars removed to accentuate the hollows of her cheeks, thus enhancing her bone structure.

I find so much inspiration from looking to the glamorous women of the past not only for fashion, but what they were able to achieve.

I hope you found some inspiration here, or maybe just learned what to use your fine gold chain for!!

Tell me, who are you most inspired by?

I would love to know, so please leave me a comment below!