History[ edit ] "Glamour" originally referred to a magic spell , an illusion said to be cast by witches , particularly associated with witches of Roma "Gypsy" origin. This is a sense used in this article and to some extent is the way that it was used by the early Hollywood system. In modern usage glamour is often confused with style or beauty; but they may be considered to be distinct, although glamour may give the appearance of beauty or present as a personal style. Expensive items are often part of a glamorous lifestyle.
And in the same breath that people will exclaim how much they admire vintage glamour, they say they could never do it themselves. Well, why not? Why should the glamour of a bygone era be unachievable now? I would argue that the s were the start of the modern fashion era and that styles from that era forward are relevant and appropriate for almost any modern setting.