Contemporary Elizabethan Portrait

Photographer: Andrew Yee
Stylist: Damian Foxe
Model: Edda Oscars
Hair: Ernest Montenovo
Makeup: James O’Riley
Designer: Balmain Fall 2012
Earrings: Oscar de la Renta

This picture isn't 100% Elizabethan as it actually looks slightly more renaissance, however there are aspects of this picture that are Elizabethan inspired. We'll start with the Hair and Makeup, firstly the hair is parted down the middle which is typical for an Elizabethan hairstyle as I've seen this is in many Elizabethan Portraits, I also love the simplicity of this hairstyle as it is very understated as I think the dress does all the talking in this picture. Secondly the makeup has aspects of Elizabethan makeup for example the skin is very pale and the blusher is mainly on the apple of the cheeks of the model, I personally think the makeup is absolutely sensational as the makeup artist has accentuated all the high points on the models face . The eyebrows seem to have been blocked out slightly which is a typical trait of Elizabethan makeup as they use to pluck all there eyebrow hairs off to create the look of a higher forehead. 

On to the clothes the model is wearing. The main reason I chose this picture is because of the dress, it is covered in pearls and crystals which is typical for an Elizabethan dress as you can see from the portrait below of Elizabeth I, she has blue pearls stitched onto her dress and is covered with these blue pearls. This Balmain dress has the same aspect of an Elizabethan dress because in that era the dress were very over the top and extremely flamboyant which is again why I've chosen this contemporary picture to compare to my Elizabethan portrait to create my 'New Elizabethan'.