25 Years Of American Beauty Trends

1980s: Bold Brows

Ugly Betty gave caterpillar eyebrows a bad rap, but in the 1980s they were actually super cool — and the trend is coming back (see the fall and spring catwalks for evidence). While some opted for full au naturel arches like Brooke Shields’ others went the way of Paula Abdul, sporting filled-in brows shades darker than their highlighted manes.

1980s: Contoured Makeup

Sculpted cheeks paired with expertly shaded eyelids and brow-bones were the norm in the 1980s. And if you were Cher, “working girl” Melanie Griffith, Debbie Harry, or Boy George, you embraced this trend like there was no tomorrow.

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1990s: Boyish Pixie Cut

Besides ushering in the era of waif-like models (see Kate Moss), the ‘90s also brought a new wave of androgyny. Instead of making a statement with a shoulder-padded ‘80s power suit, you could chop your locks into a boyish crop. Popularized by Linda Evangelista, Winona Ryder, and Demi Moore, the ’do was a cut above the rest.

1980s: Flatironed Tresses

In the late-’90s flatironed strands were the way to go—and God forbid you tuck them behind your ear. Hair could be pin-straight (Gwyneth Paltrow), flipped out (Sandra Bullock), or curled under (Jennifer Aniston) but if it wasn’t hanging flat against the sides of your face, forget it.

1990s: Light-Colored Eye Shadow

To play up your eyes in the latter part of the ’90s, you’d naturally reach for a lightly-hued shadow (think baby-blue, soft white, or lavender) — one that was preferably frosted and sparkly. See Britney Spears, Ashley Judd, and Claire Danes for pointers.

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2000s: Cornrows

Combine the mainstreaming of hip-hop music with MTV’s repetitive broadcasts of cornrow-sporting spring-breakers partying on sandy beaches, and it’s no wonder the hair trend caught on. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Beyoncé, and Fergie wearing the plaited style only served to boost its popularity more. …

2000s: The Cat-Eye

Credit Dita Von Teese and Amy Winehouse with bringing back the classic cat-eye — which is now more prolific than ever (see Nicole Richie’s recent Oscar look, the ladies of Mad Men, this season’s runway shows, etc.). To pull off this trend, a slight tick at the outer corners of the eyes is all you need. …

2000s: Ombré Hair Color

Now you don’t have to worry about your roots showing! The graduated hair-color trend we told you about in June is still in for fall, according to celebrity hair gurus Ashley Javier and George Papanikolas. Whitney Port and Rachel Bilson are both fans of the ombré look.

Go to elle.com to see the rest of the trends.