Beauty Trends

Dolce Vita beauty is trending and it's heavy on sexy, old-school glamour

Kim K, Dua Lipa and Jasmine Tookes are on board.
The Dolce Vita Beauty Is Trending  It's Unashamedly Sexy
Kim Kardashian / Instagram

It looks like we're taking our beauty cues from pop culture history. The 1960s Dolce Vita beauty aesthetic is trending once again with celeb fans like Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa and Jasmine Tookes leading the wave (although Kourt may see things differently, if you've been keeping up with the Kardashians).

The antithesis of the “clean” “minimal” and “barely there” beauty movement that's swept social media for the past few years, it seems there's been a mood-shift with more of us chasing all-out glamour, hedonism and “the good life”. Or, as the Italians like to call it: “La Dolce Vita”.

It's likely why we've seen celebs and influencers channelling '60s Cinecittà movie sirens like Sophia Loren and Monica Vitti. Stylish, glamorous and seductive, they epitomise halcyon days sweeping past Tuscan vineyards and Amalfi coastlines during the day, then slipping into something slinky and expensive – with their hair sexily thrown up out the way – at night.

After collaborating with Dolce & Gabbana on her “Ciao, Kim” archive edit last year, Kim Kardashian is back in Italy (this time Puglia) to celebrate the brand's alta moda, haute couture show, and unsurprisingly, she's leaned fully in to the dolce vita aesthetic. She wore a show-stoppingly plush chianti-coloured off the shoulder gown, with rock-sized diamonds decorating her decolletage, but her beauty look was also giving luxe. She called on her long-time hair stylist, Chris Appleton for a half-up, half-down beehive. And makeup artist, Ariel Tejada, created an ultra smoky, heavily-lidded eye with warm caramello and cioccolato tones for some sultry definition and a caffé coloured lip.

Instagram content

It's not the first time Kim has lived her best Dolce Vita life. Last September she channeled old-school glamour with her (then-)milky blonde hair piled high on her head a a tight figutre-hugging black sequin cocktail dress.

Instagram content

And before that, she referenced the famous fountain scene from Federico Fellini's 1960s La Dolce Vita film while on vacation in Rome.

Instagram content

We've also seen her channel loose updos and undone tendrils, alongside plenty of hair sexture (sexy texture).

Instagram content

Instagram content

Meanwhile, after collaborating with Versace many times before, Dua Lipa recently teamed up with Donatella on her own La Vacanza collection for the brand, which pays homage to the brand's history of sexy, Italian couture and beauty.

Instagram content

She's nodded to the dolce vita trend with some seriously gravity defying hair looks and sultry makeup, complete with full lips and fierce brows.

Instagram content

As for more ways to nail Dolce Vita beauty, we've listed our favourites below. We'll see you out-out.

Tumbling waves
There's something deliberately slinky about hair scooped up and off the nape of the neck, with tendrils tumbling loose. We love the dolce vita updo.

Instagram content

The half-up beehive
Mid-century glam, made modern. Add a cat-eye liner and you've completed the look.

Instagram content

Plush lips
Opt for full, pillowy lips with a pronounced cupids bow. And don't be scared of dramatic colours (though low-key nudes are also gorgeous).

Instagram content

The flipped side-part
Think Hollywood waves, but even glossier. Blow-dry for volume, then tease out but keep it super smooth and finish with a bombshell red lip.

Instagram content

Heavy lashes
Now's not the time to go easy on the mascara. Layer it up.

Instagram content

XXL volume
Forget shy and retiring, you want your hair to take up space with racy waves.

Instagram content

Bombshell blonde

Remember that iconic Dolce Vita fountain scene? Recreate the look with '60s blonde Jessica Rabbit waves and a sweetheart neckline.

Instagram content

For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Editor, Elle Turner follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk.