Dan's Papers - October 31, 2008

Perhaps you've already chosen a costume for Halloween, or maybe you're just planning to go as yourself. But if you're unsure about dressing up, and you'd rather go looking like a beauty than a beast, try emulating some of these iconic ladies for ravishing results.

If you have mid-length, dark hair, think Jackie O. The best way to try and capture her particular style is to find some pictures, which are easily downloadable from the Internet. Start with the obvious and the easiest: Jackie O. was often photographed wearing her signature large, round sunglasses. Her hairstyle changed only slightly throughout the years. But if you want to recreate a likeness that will be quickly recognizable, backcomb, or tease, the top of your hair, starting at the hairline and continuing into the crown. Smooth it down without a definite part and create gradually increasing height toward the crown. Do not tuck the hair behind the ears, but rather direct it backward, letting the ears show just a bit. Finally, let the ends of the hair flip up slightly. Find a hat that resembles her famed pillbox. Place the hat starting just above the crown of your head. Use bobby pins to secure it. Wear a Chanel style jacket or cardigan - maybe one in black, trimmed in hot pink - and finish with a double strand of pearls that rest just below the throat.

Now that you have captured the obvious, you might want to come in for a close-up. For example, how were her lips shaped? Create that shape with a lip-liner pencil. What color lipstick was she most often photographed wearing?

In fact, when you see those great impressions and transformative makeup applications on "Saturday Night Live," the professional hair and makeup artists line the walls with photos of the character the performer will impersonate. They study these for inspiration and accuracy to create nuances. For example, in spite of the likeness Tina Fey has to Sarah Palin, did you know Fey glues her own ears back, because the real Palin's ears are closer to her head than Fey's? Speaking of Palin, she may not be someone you want to see in Washington, but it might be fun to channel her for Halloween. If you're hair is a similar color and you have bangs, style your hair in her signature half-up, half down do, get a pair of wire rimmed eyeglasses, and to be sure no one misses the point, see if you can find a stuffed moose to carry under your arm, instead of a clutch bag.

If you're blonde with shoulder length hair, you could do vintage Madonna. Tie a rag around your head, use dark matte lipstick, throw a bunch of crosses and at least one crucifix around your neck, and no one will wonder who you're supposed to be.

You could go back further in time and do Joan Crawford. The shape of those lips and brows are so extreme and almost cartoon-like that they're easy to recreate. Use dark red lipstick, a black brow pencil, shoulder pads and, for the final effect, take along a wire hanger.

If the '40s don't appeal to you, consider the sexy, sultry '20s and go as an anonymous flapper, particularly if your hair is cut in any kind of bob. Wear a black sheath above the knee, a cloche hat and rows of navel length pearls. Line your eyes in black kohl, and draw on red lips in a bow shape, elongate your eyebrows, keeping the shape thin and sloping downward. Think Angelina Jolie in Changeling, and change yourself into a vintage beauty.