Get the 20s Look in 20 Minutes

While we might have to wait until January for Baz Luhrmann’s epic take on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, we don’t have to be quite so patient in recreating the hair and makeup from the leaked images of the film. Now, it’s your turn to take a step back in time and enter the glamorous world of the roaring ’20s.

1. The Lips

Thanks to the bold palettes of the 1920s, bright cherry red and plum lipstick shades took precedence of over nude, barely-there hues. Amp up your lips with a bold red or purple shade of lipstick. If you’re more subdued, go for a pink-based option that ties in with the colour of your blush. “If you have smaller lips and want to try a deeper lipstick shade, add a highlight to the Cupid’s bow to help promote a plump effect,” says Michael Brown, Australian beauty expert and celebrity makeup artist.

2. The Eyes

The ’20s was the era of bold brows, taupe shadows and perfectly smudged kohl eyeliner. “Choose neutral shades such as taupe, caramel, bronze, gray and even khaki in matte formulas, and use as a wash of colour across the eyelid to create depth,” says Brown. “Use the above shades on the bottom and top lash lines to define your eyes in a soft, opening way, rather than eyeliner that can be too sharp and close to the eye.” If you want to bulk up your lash line, Brown suggests using a liquid liner along your upper lash line and finishing off with a volumising -- but separating -- mascara.

3. The Hair

Short bobs and blunt fringes competed against pin curls to take out the top hairstyle honour of the times. No matter what your style of choice, frizz was banished in favour of smooth, perfectly flyaway-free hair. Recreate your style by smoothing your hair with a smooth-and-shine serum before pinning in your curls, straightening your blunt fringe, or fixing a fabulous feathered headpiece into place.

4. The Fashion

Four words: pearls, faux fur, sequins. This look is all about drop-waisted, glamorous gowns and touches of faux fur in the form of stoles and shawls. Texture was added through lace, crystal and shimmery finishes, and outfits were topped off with fabulous headwear, over-the-top accessories and T-strap high heels. Play up your shape and embrace the shimmer -- that’s what the ’20s was all about.