Reluctantly embracing her iconic appearance, Twiggy enhanced her elfin-like features and striking blue eyes with a pixie haircut, a look that has been emulated for decades.
Despite revolutionizing the fashion industry with her youthful aesthetic, the renowned model recently disclosed that she initially wasn’t keen on the androgynous trend that defined the Swinging Sixties. She admitted that her decision to adopt the style was influenced by a famous hairstylist in an upscale salon, and her shyness prevented her from declining.
As Twiggy celebrates her 74th birthday on September 19, let’s revisit the 1960s, when she first captivated audiences with the iconic baby doll styles that continue to influence fashion today!
In 1966, the British-born Twiggy, whose real name is Lesley Hornby, was in search of a fashionable new look to kickstart her career. Despite standing at only 5 feet 6 inches tall, the ambitious young model was repeatedly told that she was too short to make it in the competitive world of fashion.
As she celebrates her 74th birthday on September 19, the former supermodel reminisced about getting her shoulder-length hair styled for some test “head shots” at London’s House of Leonard and meeting the renowned British stylist, Leonard Lewis, professionally known as Leonard of Mayfair.
Lewis was searching for models to experiment with his new crop haircut.
During her recent appearance on Jessie Ware’s podcast, “Table Manners,” Twiggy disclosed that she never intended to have her hair cut short. Despite her initial reluctance, she found herself in a posh salon in Mayfair, where the renowned British stylist Leonard Lewis offered to try his new haircut on her.
Twiggy recounted the moment, saying, “I’d been growing my hair, for a moment I kind of went, ‘I don’t know whether I want my hair cut.’ But I was in this very posh salon in Mayfair so I was a bit too shy to say I don’t want it done, and I kind of nodded.”
The following day, she returned to the salon, mentally preparing herself for the transformation. Spending seven hours in the salon chair, Twiggy underwent the haircut, coloring, and recutting process. Despite her initial reservations, she admitted that Lewis’ skills as a stylist quickly became evident.
After Leonard Lewis perfected her golden blonde crop, British photographer Barry Lategan captured Twiggy’s iconic look.
“Leonard put it up in the salon and a journalist saw it,” Twiggy recalled, mentioning the Daily Express fashion editor Deirdre McSharry, who spotted Twiggy’s daring new look in the photos while getting her hair styled by Lewis. “That’s how it all happened…When that haircut started, when that photograph was taken, that was the pivotal moment.”
The pixie cut accentuated her striking blue eyes, which she further enhanced with mascara on her lower lashes.
Reflecting on her signature doe-eyed look in a conversation with Vogue, Twiggy revealed the inspiration behind it: “I was also constantly playing around with make-up at home. I had a rag doll that had those spikey eyelashes, so I bought false eyelashes for myself and created what became known as my sort of ‘look.’”
As a young rebel outside the confines of her strict grammar school, Twiggy and her friends would defy the rules by experimenting with makeup and donning miniskirts for their weekend outings to mod clubs.
“I went to a grammar school, so it was quite strict. We wore uniforms and makeup was not allowed. So, on the weekends, me and my friends would sit like most teenage girls and play with makeup,” she reminisced. “And that’s how that makeup evolved.”
Her iconic doe-eyed look quickly became her trademark.
Just a few weeks after the Daily Express shoot, a series of black and white images, along with the headline “Twiggy–The Face Of ‘66,” graced the pages of the paper, catapulting her modeling career.
The following month, she landed her first Vogue shoot, marking the beginning of a whirlwind life.
The epitome of modern fashion, Twiggy became a role model for countless women. Still, in her teens, she became the first celebrity to inspire a Twiggy Barbie doll created by Mattel.
In the following years, Twiggy became closely associated with the pioneering British designer Mary Quant, who famously introduced short hemlines that liberated women’s legs.
After a few years of modeling, Twiggy retired from the runway in 1970 to explore opportunities in stage and screen acting, as well as singing.
Her film credits include notable performances in “The Boy Friend” (1971), for which she received two Golden Globe Awards, and “Club Paradise” (1986), where she starred alongside the late Robin Williams.
Beyond acting, Twiggy ventured into fashion design, collaborating on a line exclusive to Marks & Spencer, and appeared in numerous billboard ads for the brand.
In 2011, she released the album “Romantically Yours,” featuring cover songs like “Blue Moon,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” and “Right Here Waiting.” Notably, her daughter, Carly Lawson (born 1978), contributes as a guest vocalist on some tracks.
Remaining active in the fashion industry, Twiggy has served as an ambassador for L’Oreal and continues to collaborate with various brands as a designer.
These days, the iconic Twiggy remains active with her podcast, “Tea with Twiggy,” where she engages in intimate conversations with her celebrity friends every week.
Despite her numerous accomplishments and status as one of the most iconic figures of her generation, Twiggy believes that her true success is measured by the bond she shares with her remarkable daughter.
Following the untimely death of her father, actor Michael Witney, at the age of 52 during Twiggy’s fifth birthday celebration, Carly was primarily raised by her mother and Twiggy’s second husband, Leigh Lawson, whom she married in 1988.
“For me, family always comes first. It has always been my priority, especially when Carly was young. If something didn’t work for Carly, I wouldn’t pursue it,” Twiggy shared, reflecting on her role as a mother. Now a grandmother herself, Twiggy cherishes the close relationship she shares with Carly.
“We were inseparable. Even when I traveled for work, she would come with me,” Twiggy recalled. “Just the other day, she mentioned, ‘I can’t recall a time when you weren’t there, Mum.’ That’s because I always made sure to be there for her.”
