Style Icon: Sophia Loren

One of the most iconic movie stars in history is Italy's own Sophia Loren. The 77-year-old has graced the silver screen for over 50 years and her big gaudy Italian style has captivated us throughout the decades. She is the queen of the dramatic eye and rocks that lip liner with such grandeur, that she will be idolized for years to come.

If you're interested in braving this look, I should warn you that it's not an everyday-running-errands sort of thing. I would suggest wearing this out to a black-tie event, or a Christmas party.

Step 1-
After you've cleaned your face, apply a nice even layer of foundation or tinted moisturizer all over to even out your skin tone. Don't forget concealer or highlighter in the corners of your eyes and nose, cheekbones and eyebrow bones.

Step 2-
Apply a matte bronzer just underneath your cheekbones, chin, forehead and nose. We're using the bronzer to contour the face, not to make you look tanned.

Step 3-
Apply a matte powder or cream eyeshadow on your eyelids up to the crease of your eye. Use a dark purple, grey or brown colour. This is essential to adding shape to your eyes and for getting that dramatic Sophia look.

MAC Paint Pot in Imaginary

Step 4-
Grab a white eyeliner and line the bottom water-line with it. Make sure not to get it on your lashes or lid as it might make the mascara or black eyeliner appear clumpy or lighter than it should be.

Step 5-
This is one of the most important steps in creating this look. It's also one of the most difficult. I would suggest using a gel eyeliner instead of a liquid eyeliner but both will definitely work. We're going to make a very clean but dramatic line from the corner of your eye along the crease all the way to the other side up until it's the length of your eyebrows. You sort of want to draw something like this:

If you mess up... don't worry about it. Just grab a Q-Tip and try again. After you've completed this masterpiece for both sides, it's time to do the bottom one. Try to stay on the very edge of your eyelid. Don't get it on the water-line, and don't apply it too low on the bottom lid. It's all about slow and steady! Start from the middle of the lid and work your way up and then meet it in the corner of the top liner. After that, complete the line from the middle to the inner eye, finishing in a nice thin line.

Step 6-

Now it's time to do your lashes! If you want to go all out you can wear falsies or just use a volumizing mascara. When using your eyelash curler make sure to curl it for about 10 more seconds than you usually do to get them good and crimped. Put on 5-7 coats of mascara on top (focus a little more attention on the outer corners) and 1-2 coats on the bottom lash. Make sure you don't ruin the white and black eyeliner!

Step 7-
Depending on what colour lipstick you'd want to go with (I would suggest something light) get your self a lip liner that is maybe 1-2 shades darker. For a liner I would suggest MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in In Anticipation, and Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Dune Rose. It's very Sophia.

Step 8- Final Touches
Pop some colour on your face by adding maybe a bit of bronzer on the apples of your cheeks and then a nice rosy blush. Brush your eyebrows upwards and fill them in if necessary. Remember, this look doesn't work when paired with sweatpants. Costume jewellery, a ball gown, big hair, long painted nails and a handsome man on your arm are perfect ways of completing your Sophia Loren look. And have fun!