GLAM - how do you define this term?

[softgrey]

jerry hall with bryan ferry...my definition of glam...
vivaroxymusic.com

 

[Kimkhuu]

what i associate glam to...... and to me glam is not really a compliment........ glamourous old hollywood icons hair....... (think like the hair style shalom harlow sported during the f/w 05 dior couture show)...... fitted dresses with a sufficient amount of cleavage...... highly glossed red lips.....

diamonds...... ...lots of them......... sparkly gowns.........

 

[Curious]

ANOTHer great topic

When I think GLAM, I think over the top, glitzy, flashy, loud... a deMAND for attention! I also think this look is very "of the moment" and evolves quickly meaning that it's definitive of it's era.

When I think glamourous, I think understated, sophisticated, classic... a quiet attraction that spans decades...

 

[*Princesse*]

I always consider glam and glamourous and being the same, but after reading this thread, I've already rethought my ideas about it. "Glam" is like tacky dance compititions, where 5-year-olds wear bright red lipstick, false eyelashes, middrif baring costumes, and shake everything they could possibly ever have. It's like a sarcastic mockery of true glamour, usually thinking it IS true glamour at the same time.
Glamour is a more subdued version of that: You're older than 5, wear dramatic yet never over the top eye make-up, red lips, and are incredibly sexy and complete. It's effortless.
So in a way, glamour is having "It" without trying. Glam is trying to have "it", and failing misserably.

 

[Kimkhuu]

like glam would be let's say gwen stefani, while glamour would be more nicole kidman....... if it makes any sense.....

 

[goosemaster]

I think I get where your going with this softie...
hmmm, I'll try to dig up a few photos of something or another....
just to play around....

 

[Spacemiu]

alluring, other worldy, fanatsy, sexy, romatic

 

[softgrey]

I think I get where your going with this softie...
hmmm, I'll try to dig up a few photos of something or another....
just to play around....

thanks hun...
to be honest..i've been having trouble coming up with images that show this on the net...
but i've got shelves of old mags...
if only i had a scanner...

 

[faust]

To me the term is negative - it alludes to something ostentatious, overdone and shallow. Think all the flashy ugly Oscar outfits...

 

[softgrey]

but can't it also be FUN and FLIRTATIOUS faust?...

all girlie and such...

lots of long shiny hair, etc...

 

[Hanne]

Glamourous - hmmm.. Elegant but Flashy ? ..that would be a positive definition of it.. glamourous when it is best.

 

[faust]

but can't it also be FUN and FLIRTATIOUS faust?...

all girlie and such...

lots of long shiny hair, etc...

Hmmm, I don't know... Maybe I am conditioned by society that puts GLAM and the worst of pop-culture together

I like girlie and flirtatious - but that connotates to me with inviting and accessable, while GLAM connotates with haughty...

 

[softgrey]

yes..i see where you are coming from faust...
there is maybe a bit of haughtiness there....

i think you are right...
sort of a 'look but don't touch' thing...
i didn't see that ...but it is there...

 

[fash ho']

I work in a store called Glam in Copenhagen - vintage clothing, very girly, from the 20's to the 80's, all about the dresses.

Elegance on crack?

 

[goosemaster]

well I think it was something very diff in that day... and where you're coming form softie...
I'd love to see the images you'd post if you had a scanner (there cheap by the way), I dont have alot to choose form, but I'll look.
honestly, and dont kill me for this, but... I think the closest thing to what you're talking about, that's going on right now (or er, 2 or 3 years ago), and I saw a lot of girls doing it quite well in NY a few years back... was the retro eighties thing.
I know it bombed out qiuck in the 2 minute 'electro clash' phase, but they were looking really hot and stylish and had the disco/newwave/euro fashion thing going on...
I have a book with studio 54 photos in it... give me a few minutes..

 

[softgrey]

Glamourous - hmmm.. Elegant but Flashy ? ..that would be a positive definition of it.. glamourous when it is best.

i think elegant but flashy sounds right...

very SHINY!!...



go goose!!...
hope you can find some good stuff...

 

[snowqueen]

well groomed, close to perfection, stands out from the crowd, adored and worhiped and looked upto by others.
Also I think part of it is respecting, looking after and generally being happy with your self, a glam person doesnt shy away, or walk with their head down etc.

 

[Spike413]

When I think glam I think of a lot of the things softgrey mentioned, hair, makeup, nails (all done to perfection of course) chic clothes, fluffy fur, ostrich feathers, satin, stilettoes, beads, slinky lines, a bit of flesh, jewelry (fine jewelry, not bling bling)

Bianca Jagger is definitly a good image of Glam.

Then of course there's the more "vintage" glam, which has all the same elements but done to even more of an extreme. Think Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Veronica Lake....all those fabulous girls.

I agree with that "look but don't touch" vibe, that's definitly apart of glam since it's all about perfection, and definitly elegantly flashy...that's a great way to describe it.

Some photos.....

all photos: Style.com

 

[Spike413]

and some inspiration.....

photos: Style.com

http://www.***************/image/2003B/0609200311161903.jpghttp://www.***************/image/2003B/0609200311160376.jpg

photos: Elle.com

photos: Firstview.com

 

[star]

but you bring up a good point northern sky...

GLAM ROCK!!!...

because in MY WORLD...
GLAM ROCK...is the NY DOLLS...
pre-punk rock with lots of make up and platform shoes...
think dior homme s/s 05...




**ps-glad you guys are liking the threads...
just trying to do my part as a contributing member...

i agree! when i think of glam i think of glam rock!
blondie, maybe even gwen stefani when shes done up...