If you know me, you know winged eyeliner is my signature look. It depends on what I’m feeling that day, if I’m going to jack them up to jesus, or do a more dainty refined look but I feel naked without it. Here is the abridged history on this iconic makeup look.

Winged eyeliner dates back to king tut times. It was discovered in the 1920’s that mummies from this era were wearing this winged design on their eyes. Archeologists were fascinated by this and actually introduced eyeliner to the western world. The cat eye was born in the modern era from the popularity of an ancient civilization. Also, women wanted to be a little more rebellious in the 1920’s so flappers adopted the look to their fashion choices.

In the 1940’s and 1950’s winged eyeliner made a resurgence in the style of working women and pinup girls. Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe to name a few were ladies who rocked winged eyeliner. It wasn’t until 1960 however, Liquid eyeliner was born, making winged eyeliner sharper and cleaner. However, by the 60’s winged eyeliner started to die down with more natural makeup becoming more fashionable due to the hippie movement.

It was not until the mid 70’s when punk rock and punk and gothic fashion were born, where winged eyeliner started to make its come back. The darker and more dramatic was the style of this scene. Winged eyeliner was a big style in this subculture and carried on for years in the scene. Men also started doing eyeliner but were not making it winged. Winged eyeliner from that point on ward became associated with the underground rock and punk rock scenes. It wasn’t until recently it has started to make its way into the mainstream and making winged eyeliner a trend with everyone again.

To me, winged eyeliner is a rebellious person thing. It first popped into the mainstream with the flappers and has continued through out history with people who beat to there own drum. I find that really cool, because I always say I wear my makeup the way I do because I like it. I like getting up and doing my makeup and being creative with it. Makeup can be fun and bold. I like that these women challenged beauty standards and wore they’re makeup because they liked it and not cause of any man. So we wing our eyeliner in salute to all the cool and badass people who came before us .