Glamour (presentation) facts for kids

Lana Turner was considered to be a glamorous star.

Art deco is often said to be glamorous

Glamour is a special kind of charm or attraction. It makes something look very appealing, often luxurious or elegant. It's like making reality seem even better!

A person, an event, a place, or even a product can be glamorous. For example, a fancy dress or a cool car can add glamour. The word "glamour" first meant a magic spell or an illusion made by witches.

For something to be truly glamorous, it often looks effortless. It also seems a bit mysterious and special, not quite everyday. Glamorous things don't hide everything, but they show things in a very good light.

Early Hollywood studios were experts at creating "Hollywood glamour." They worked hard to make their actors and actresses look incredibly appealing.

Glamour is different from just being stylish or beautiful. Style is about following a certain fashion trend. Beauty is about how something looks naturally. Glamour, however, can be created on purpose to make something look more attractive.

The History of Glamour

The word "glamour" originally came from an old Scottish word. It meant a magic spell or an illusion. People believed witches could cast these spells to make things look different.

In the late 1800s, the meaning of "glamour" started to change. It began to describe non-magical things that made someone look more attractive. For example, a special piece of jewelry might be called "a glamour."

Later, the common meaning shifted even more. It started to describe ordinary objects and jewelry. The focus was on the effect they had on a person's appearance. This is similar to how early Hollywood used the term.

Today, glamour is sometimes confused with style or beauty. But they are different ideas. Glamour can make someone appear beautiful or stylish, but it's a separate concept.

Glamour in Design

Many types of architecture use glamorous ideas. They do this to make buildings look more appealing. Sometimes, they make ordinary buildings seem special.

The Art Deco style is a great example. It is known for its fancy and often shiny designs. This style is generally seen as very glamorous.

An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. Expensive items are often part of a glamorous lifestyle.

Hollywood Glamour in Cinema

The "Golden Age" of glamour in Hollywood was in the 1930s and 1940s. This was after the Great Depression. People loved seeing movie stars look so perfect and elegant.

Hollywood studios dressed their female stars in fancy gowns and beautiful jewelry. They showed them off both in movies and at special events. Joan Crawford, a famous actress, once said she always looked like a movie star when she went out.

Photographers used special techniques to make actors look their best. They painted rooms in certain colors to make skin tones look good. They also paid close attention to hair and clothes.

Many stars were known for their glamour, including:

• Greta Garbo
• Betty Grable
• Grace Kelly
• Hedy Lamarr (who famously said, "Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." This was a joke about how easy it looked!)
• Sean Connery
• Marilyn Monroe

Glamour Icons

Glamour icons are people who are seen as perfect examples of glamour. They have a unique style that makes them very attractive and admired.

Here are some famous glamour icons:

Glamour in Photography

Photographers use many tricks to create glamorous images. They use makeup, special lighting, and even airbrushing. These techniques help make the person in the photo look as appealing as possible.

See also

In Spanish: Glamur para niños

• Beauty, being attractive
• Diva, a famous female singer or actress
• Elegance, simple grace and style
• Glam rock, a music style where musicians wore flashy clothes and makeup
• Sprezzatura, making something look easy and effortless
• Style, how someone dresses or acts