Stunning Eyeliner Looks From Old Hollywood's Biggest Stars

Old Hollywood was filled with some of the greatest beauties of its time, with their curled, glossy hair and flawless skin. Their looks were undeniably timeless and they sure knew a thing or two about makeup that wouldn't be out of place in the modern era, considering these old school beauty tips from Grace Kelly you can still use today. What may be less obvious is that in those days, eyeliner was a core part of many of these looks. Several elite celebs from this era became recognizable icons due to this alone. 

For these silver screen veterans, their eyes were one of their biggest assets, and eyeliner was a surefire way to make them pop. And they definitely knew how to use the makeup to nail the essence of a character. So if you want to channel Old Hollywood glamour the way Elizabeth Taylor did, then you might want to take notes on these unforgettable eyeliner looks. 

Elizabeth Taylor was not only a renowned actor, but a skilled makeup artist. As she knew what suited her best, the Oscar winner did her own makeup for glitzy events and for several of her films. Eyeliner was a fixture in her looks, which she showcased in 1963's "Cleopatra". In her role as the last Egyptian pharaoh, Taylor took her eyeliner skills to the next level, not only executing an exaggerated cat-eye, but extending it further to connect with her brow-bone. It's the precursor for the deconstructed eyeliner look, which is a beauty look you'll definitely want to try.

Sophia Loren was the beauty icon of her day, an Italian bombshell who knew how to work a camera. But she also knew how to make her greatest features work for her, accentuating her beautiful brown eyes with generous layers of mascara, as well as her signature cat-eye that she was regularly photographed wearing She applied eyeliner to her lower lash line as well, connecting it to her upper lash line with a delicate flick. And as seen in this picture of her in 1966's "Arabesque", it's no wonder that this eyeliner look went on to inspire countless makeup tutorials.

No one could quite channel sultry and sensual more expertly than Brigitte Bardot, who made her mark in pop culture as a fashion and beauty icon. She was instantly recognizable not only due to her voluminous hairstyles, platinum blond hair, and full lips, but for her eyeliner looks as well. Unlike Taylor and Loren, Bardot's eyeliner was thick and ended with a short, slightly smudged flick at the end. It really suited her eyes and likely helped her become the 'It girl' of the '60s. 

Diahann Caroll will be remembered as a talented actor who paved the way for other African-American women in the entertainment industry. But aside from her work, Caroll set a high standard with her timeless beauty looks. And she certainly delivered in the above picture taken in 1969, with Caroll's sparkling eyes instantly drawing you in. Her perfect winged liner served to accentuate their almond shape. And paired with the gray eyeshadow? Perfection. 

Renowned as the world's very first supermodel, Twiggy caught the world's attention with her elfin features and huge, round eyes. But compared to the other Old Hollywood starlets on this list, Twiggy didn't follow the usual template of cat-eye looks with a signature sharp flick. Instead, she followed what suited her eye shape best, using eyeliner to line the upper lash line in thick layers, before ending with a rounded edge. And capped with her signature long lashes and dramatic eyeshadow, it's understandable how Twiggy made fashion history. 

Anna May Wong made history as the first Asian American actor to make it into Hollywood, and despite the prejudices endemic in her day, she remained unforgettable. While she had an impeccable taste in fashion, Wong's beauty looks were not to be dismissed. In a 1932 photograph, Wong's flawless makeup is undeniably eye-catching. But unlike other cat-eye looks we've seen, Wong extended the wing from her lower lash line, which only served to flatter her eyes.

Aside from her elegant fashion, Audrey Hepburn's charming personality and bewitching beauty was one of the things that proved memorable about her. The "Roman Holiday" star's makeup artist, Alberto de Rossi, really knew how to accentuate her eyes, as seen in this candid 1955 photograph. 

As makeup artist Celia Burton told Vogue, De Rossi kept it simple with Hepburn's elegant cat eye, which he further emphasized by adding mascara. "Legend has it that [he] would [...] then separate each individual eyelash with a safety pin to [emphasize] her doe eyes," she said. It was certainly effective and proved a killer combination for the legendary actor.