Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, left an indelible mark on the music world with her powerful voice and timeless hits. But beyond her immense talent, Aretha was also an icon of beauty and style. Throughout her career, she embraced and redefined beauty trends, drawing inspiration from various icons and eras. With each decade, Aretha’s beauty looks evolved, reflecting the cultural shifts of the time while remaining uniquely hers. This article delves into the key influences that shaped Aretha Franklin’s signature beauty looks, exploring the icons, trends, and movements that left a lasting imprint on her legendary style.

1. Old Hollywood Glamour: A Nod to Classic Elegance

Aretha Franklin’s early beauty style was heavily influenced by the glamorous stars of Old Hollywood. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Hollywood’s leading ladies such as Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, and Marilyn Monroe epitomized elegance and sophistication. Aretha, who grew up in the shadow of these powerful figures, channeled their allure in her own looks.

Old Hollywood glamour was characterized by flawless skin, bold lips, and perfectly coiffed hair. Aretha embraced these elements, adopting voluminous curls or waves that mirrored the beauty icons of the era. Her makeup was polished and sophisticated, with a focus on bold lip colors, winged eyeliner, and well-defined brows.

Dorothy Dandridge, in particular, stood out as an influence on Aretha’s beauty evolution. Like Dandridge, Aretha often opted for classic red lips that exuded confidence and femininity. Dandridge’s signature glamorous waves and Aretha’s penchant for perfectly styled hair also drew parallels. Throughout the early years of her career, Aretha was often seen in elegant evening gowns, further solidifying her connection to the Old Hollywood aesthetic.

2. The Influence of Motown: Glamour Meets Power

The 1960s marked a significant period of transformation in Aretha Franklin’s career and beauty evolution. As she established herself as a powerhouse in the music industry, Aretha’s beauty looks began to reflect the changing times, drawing heavily from the Motown era.

Motown, with its emphasis on polished perfection and glamour, shaped the beauty trends of the decade. Female artists like Diana Ross and The Supremes set beauty standards with their sleek hairstyles, dramatic eye makeup, and immaculate presentations. These women epitomized the glamour and sophistication of the era, and Aretha embraced similar styles in her own way.

During this period, Aretha experimented with a variety of iconic hairstyles, including beehive updos, bouffants, and voluminous curls. These styles, reminiscent of Diana Ross’s signature looks, became synonymous with the Motown aesthetic. The beehive hairstyle, in particular, became a defining feature of Aretha’s look during the 1960s, symbolizing both glamour and strength.

Aretha also adopted the striking eye makeup trends popularized by Motown artists. Cat-eye eyeliner, bold lashes, and shimmering eyeshadows became staples of her stage presence. These elements added a touch of drama to her looks, emphasizing her eyes and enhancing her commanding presence on stage. Whether performing in a shimmering gown or a more casual outfit, Aretha’s Motown-inspired beauty looks exuded power and elegance.

3. Afrocentric Beauty Movements: Embracing Black Identity

As the 1970s unfolded, a broader cultural shift toward Black pride and Afrocentric beauty took hold across America. This movement, which aligned with the Civil Rights Movement, encouraged African Americans to embrace their natural beauty, including their hair and skin, as a powerful expression of their identity. Aretha Franklin, ever attuned to the times, began to incorporate these Afrocentric trends into her beauty repertoire.

The 1970s saw Aretha Franklin embrace her natural curls, afros, and braids. These hairstyles became symbolic of the broader Black empowerment movement, where embracing natural hair was a form of resistance against Eurocentric beauty standards. Aretha’s choice to wear her hair in these styles was not just a beauty statement; it was a declaration of pride in her Black identity.

Aretha’s evolving hairstyles reflected her connection to the cultural and political changes of the time. During performances, interviews, and public appearances, she was often seen wearing natural afros or intricately styled braids. These styles celebrated Black beauty in its most authentic form and aligned Aretha with the growing movement of Black empowerment that was sweeping the nation.

This era also marked a shift in Aretha’s makeup choices. She began to favor a more natural makeup look that complemented her Afrocentric hairstyles. Earth-toned eyeshadows, soft blushes, and natural lip colors became part of her beauty routine, enhancing her features without overshadowing her natural beauty. This shift represented a departure from the more dramatic looks of the Motown era and showcased Aretha’s embrace of her own identity.

4. Disco and the 1970s Glam: Glitter, Shimmer, and Bold Colors

The late 1970s brought with it the rise of disco culture, which was characterized by glitz, glamour, and over-the-top beauty trends. Aretha Franklin, ever the chameleon, adapted to this new wave of beauty with enthusiasm. The disco era was all about bold, flashy looks that matched the vibrant energy of the music, and Aretha incorporated these elements into her own style.

During the disco era, glitter, shimmer, and metallics dominated beauty trends, and Aretha embraced them wholeheartedly. She was often seen sporting metallic eyeshadows in golds and silvers, which added a touch of drama to her eyes. Bold lip colors, ranging from bright pinks to deep purples, became part of her beauty repertoire, further enhancing her vibrant stage presence.

Accessories also played a significant role in Aretha’s disco-inspired looks. She often adorned herself with glittering jewelry, sequined outfits, and sparkling headpieces that reflected the dazzling energy of the disco scene. Her hairstyles during this period also reflected the era’s flair for the dramatic, with voluminous curls and big, bouncy waves that added to her larger-than-life persona.

The disco era allowed Aretha to experiment with her style and push the boundaries of beauty trends. Her looks during this time were playful, bold, and unapologetically glamorous, perfectly aligning with the disco movement’s emphasis on fun and excess. Whether performing in front of thousands or attending high-profile events, Aretha’s disco-inspired beauty looks captured the spirit of the era and left a lasting impression on her fans.

5. The Iconic Red Lips: A Symbol of Power and Confidence

One of Aretha Franklin’s most enduring beauty signatures was her love for bold red lipstick. Throughout her career, this timeless color became a defining feature of her beauty repertoire. Red lips have long been associated with confidence, power, and femininity, and Aretha embraced this iconic beauty statement to convey her strength and charisma both on and off stage.

Red lipstick became a constant in Aretha’s beauty looks, whether she was performing, attending an awards show, or making a public appearance. The color symbolized her commanding presence and unwavering confidence, making it an essential part of her iconic style. The bold red lips complemented her powerful voice, creating a striking image that fans and critics alike couldn’t forget.

The power of red lipstick transcended beauty for Aretha. It became a symbol of her defiance, strength, and status as a queen in the music world. Whether paired with dramatic eye makeup or more subdued looks, her red lips always took center stage, reinforcing her identity as a force to be reckoned with. Even as beauty trends evolved over the decades, Aretha’s red lips remained a constant, representing her timeless allure and unyielding spirit.

6. Timeless Elegance in Later Years: Graceful and Refined

As Aretha Franklin aged gracefully, her beauty looks evolved into a more refined and elegant style. She continued to draw inspiration from classic beauty icons while making the looks her own. Soft curls, elegant chignons, and muted makeup with a focus on glowing skin became her go-to looks in her later years. Yet, even as her style matured, Aretha never lost her sense of glamour and always exuded the regal presence that made her a true icon.

In her later years, Aretha’s beauty looks reflected her wisdom, grace, and enduring status as a legend. She often favored elegant hairstyles, such as soft curls or chignons, which framed her face and highlighted her timeless beauty. Her makeup also evolved to a more subtle and sophisticated palette, with an emphasis on radiant skin and well-defined features. While her earlier looks were bold and dramatic, her later beauty choices exuded a quiet confidence that was equally powerful.

One of the most notable aspects of Aretha’s later beauty looks was her ability to merge classic trends with her unique flair. She continued to embrace elements of Old Hollywood glamour, such as polished waves and bold lips, while incorporating modern touches that kept her looks fresh and relevant. Even as she aged, Aretha never shied away from experimenting with new styles and trends, demonstrating her commitment to evolving her beauty looks while staying true to herself.

Aretha Franklin’s beauty journey was as dynamic and influential as her music. From the Old Hollywood glam to Afrocentric styles and disco trends, she embraced various beauty inspirations throughout the decades. Her ability to merge classic trends with her unique flair cemented her as a beauty icon, just as much as she was a musical legend. Whether through her bold red lips or her empowering natural hairstyles, Aretha’s beauty looks will continue to inspire generations to come.

Conclusion

Aretha Franklin’s beauty muse was a reflection of her ever-evolving journey through the decades. From the Old Hollywood glam that shaped her early career to the Afrocentric pride of the 1970s and the disco glam of the late ’70s, Aretha was always in tune with the cultural zeitgeist. Her signature beauty statements, such as her iconic red lips and voluminous curls, were as much a part of her identity as her music.

Aretha’s beauty evolution was not just about following trends but about using her looks to express her inner strength, confidence, and pride in her identity. Her beauty journey mirrored her musical journey, both of which were marked by a fearless embrace of change and a refusal to be confined by expectations. Aretha Franklin remains an icon not only for her extraordinary talent but also for her ability to redefine beauty standards and inspire generations of women to embrace their own unique beauty.

Whether through her glamorous red lips, her Afrocentric hairstyles, or her disco-inspired looks, Aretha Franklin’s beauty legacy continues to resonate. Her influence can be seen in today’s beauty trends, where the celebration of individuality and empowerment remains at the forefront. Aretha’s beauty muse was not just about looking good—it was about feeling good, owning her power, and sharing that strength with the world. In doing so, she left behind a legacy that will inspire and empower for generations to come.