Is glamour a thing of the past?

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Liz Hurley and Jennifer Lopez may well be considered among the most glamorous people around today - with fame, money and style - but they just don’t come close to the Glamour icons of past decades! A new poll of UK women by handbag.com to mark the launch of Glamour Month on handbag, has revealed the most glamorous era of all-time is the 1950s, when Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe oozed style and allure.

handbag.com - the UK’s first and leading site for women (ABCe, 570,400) - registered over 4,000 votes in a poll to reveal the A-Z of glamour: who’s got it; what makes a person glamorous; and the most glamorous celebrity couples of all-time! The poll was part of a glamour-themed month on the site, with features on celeb style, coverage of The Oscars, and hints and tips on bringing glamour into our lives.

Most Glamorous Era

Asked to choose the most glam period more than half (54%) of handbag readers opted for the 1950s. Obviously the style legends, Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe associated with this era proved popular with voters. It was a post-war period when people started to really appreciate glamour - a decade filled with some of the most glamorous movie stars ever. Think Roman Holiday and Some Like it Hot!, think hats and gloves, think beautiful dresses and strings of pearls!

In second place was the 1940s (33%), again reflecting the appeal of such legendary glamour icons as Lauren Bacall and Rita Hayworth.

The most unglamorous decade according to handbag.com readers was the 1980s (chosen by only 2%). Though associated with excess, shoulder-pad power suits and the quest for a fast buck, stars of the 1980s such as Heather Locklear did not appeal to handbag readers as glamorous enough to take the crown.

Glamour expert, Pamela Church-Gibson, Senior Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at London College of Fashion, comments: “It’s not surprising that handbag.com readers voted the 50s as the most glamorous age. Think of Audrey Hepburn sipping her cappucino on the pavement outside Tiffany’s as the dawn breaks: her high-piled hair, dark glasses and floor-length black dress, roped with pearls. And of Marilyn, off to bed wearing nothing at all but Chanel no. 5.”

Least Glamorous Celebrities

So who is the least glamorous celebrity of today? Well, while she’s responsible for dressing some of the most glam female icons of the time, Donatella Versace doesn’t win any awards herself. The handbag.com poll of 4,000 readers suggests that her personal style isn’t haute couture - securing one third (34%) of handbag’s ‘least glamorous celebrity’ vote.

Also getting the thumbs down for glamour were Atomic Kitten and Mariah Carey, who received 30% and 19% of the votes respectively. Despite the launches of their own-label fashion collections recently, it seems modern women just don’t think they have what it takes. For Mariah, it may well be a case of too much cleavage on display!

Most Glamorous Celebrity Couples

Our newspapers may be filled with modern-day glamorous couples: J-Lo and Ben, Posh and Becks, but who is the most glamorous couple of all time?

Well she was a cool blonde movie star and he was blue-blooded Royalty - could there be any doubt that Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier would be considered the most glamorous couple ever, securing 29% of the handbag.com vote? Considered the epitome of glamour in their own era, they are an enduring example of the essence of a glamorous couple.

Also proving popular in the handbag celebrity couple glamour stakes, were Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton with a quarter of the votes. Close behind them are Jackie and John F Kennedy (20%), with Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt (20%) our top-rated modern couple.

What is Glamour?

Commenting on the poll, handbag’s editor, Debbie Djordjevic says: “handbag readers see glamour as an innate quality. 43% of our readers categorised it as ‘je ne se quoi’ - you’ve either got it or you haven’t! It’s all about effortless cool, grace and an inherent appeal. “What our poll tells us is, interestingly, handbag readers see glamour as something that can’t be bought or acquired - which may explain why some of our current celebrities have fared less well than our glamour icons from the 40s and 50s. The poll clearly shows that just because a person is rich and famous doesn’t mean that that they are necessarily glamorous.”

The second essential quality for being truly glamorous is personality and charisma (34%), throw in a touch of fashion and style (19%) and you’ve reached glamorous heights!

Glamour Quick Fix

For a quick fix of glamour, handbag readers voted a haircut as the best way to get some glamour in your life (60%). Don’t have time for a visit to the hairdressers? The next best thing for instant glamour is some lipstick (25%).

Pamela Church-Gibson, of the London College of Fashion, comments on what makes things glamorous saying: “Glamour, what is it? The answer is, surely, that glamour - ‘magical, alluring, enchanting, and often linked to artifice’ - is something innate, that certain je ne sais quoi.

Sinatra sang’ you’ve either got or you haven’t got style’ and the handbag poll proves he’s right - all the money in the world won’t help you. Think of poor Donatella Versace, voted least glamorous female celebrity in handbag.com’s poll, with her perma-tanned skin and Barbie hair she’s straight out of Footballers Wives, rather than redolent of Hollywood in its heyday.”

Church-Gibson concludes: “Today’s glamorous women can look fantastic in a black Tshirt and trousers - like Catherine Zeta-Jones - or use high-voltage Hollywood tactics, like Liz Hurley. Off-duty she still looks the part - her cropped pants and Lacoste shirt finished off with Gucci mules - but because she’s innately glamorous, she could probably get away with a pair of plimsolls.”

Note to editors

The Glamour poll was carried on handbag.com’s home page, fashion page and beauty page from 28/2/03 to 6/3/03. 4555 votes were cast. The full poll results in each category follow.

Most Glamorous Era

* 1940s - 33%

* 1950s - 54%

* 1960s - 5%

* 1970s - 3%

* 1980s - 2%

* 1990s onwards - 4%
Most Glamorous Celebrity Couples
* Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton - 25%

* Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt - 20%

* Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall - 1%

* David Bowie and Iman - 5%

* Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier - 29%

* Jackie O and John F Kennedy - 20%
What makes a person glamorous?
* Money - 1%

* Style / fashion - 19%

* Personality and charisma - 34%

* Power and influence - 2%

* je ne sais quoi - you either have it or you don’t - 43%
Least Glamorous Celebrities
* Elizabeth Hurley - 4%

* Victoria Beckham - 9%

* Jennifer Lopez - 5%

* Mariah Carey - 19%

* Donatella Versace - 33%

* Atomic Kitten - 30%
What can make you glamorous in an instant?
* Lipstick - 25%

* Haircut - 60%

* Manicure - 15%

Glamour Month

Throughout March 2003, handbag.com are celebrating glamour with a month of glam happening on the website, including features, competitions and discussions on all things glamorous. Glamour Month will culminate in the announcement of the Oscar winners - and losers - on 24 March. handbag.com will be showcasing the best and worst dresses on the red carpet - will it be all glamour or will Cher wear yet another terrible dress?!

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© 2002 An Unevenly Distributed Future.