Q & A : Glamour Is . . .

How do you define glamour in 1991?

Madeleine Gallay, owner, Madeleine Gallay boutique on Sunset Boulevard: “Glamour is a car that doesn’t break down. It’s the new chic. I’ve been to the auto mechanic twice this week. I have a ’71 Mercedes. I hate my car wildly. It’s much more glamorous to be selfish and just have to take care of yourself. Oh--but I’m a retailer. I should say that Manolo Blahnik shoes are glamorous.”

Robin Piccone, designer for Body Glove sportswear: “It’s confidence and overt femininity. It’s really putting a lot of effort into the way you look; having your hair done, putting on real makeup--eye liner, powder, big red lips and a push-up bra, and then mixing it with a T-shirt to bring it down.”

Lance and John, the Hollywood Kids, Hollywood gossipers extraordinaire: “Asylum restaurant, Madonna when her roots are done, wearing real Pucci, manners, Chris Isaak music, not renting videos on Saturday night, artist Max Ernst, drag queens, Lancome’s Effet du Soleil (self-tanning lotion) and having some sort of cosmetic surgery.”

Army Archerd, columnist, Daily Variety: “It’s really no different in ’91 than it was in ‘21--not that I was around then. It’s the rich, the unattainable, the mysterious, the sexy, the beautiful, the handsome, the powerful.”

Nina Blanchard, modeling agent, the Nina Blanchard Agency: “I think glamour used to be just movie stars, but not anymore. Now it comes from models and international celebrities and MTV. But I think the glamorous look in the early ‘90s seems to be a very exotic, ethnic-looking woman. They’re not the tokens anymore. We don’t even think about their racial background. It has to do with things happening politically. Twenty years ago if you looked at a picture of a woman in the Sudan, you’d say, ‘Oh, isn’t she different looking.’ But she isn’t, she’s part of the mix. And hopefully in a few years from now, people won’t even say, ‘Isn’t that a nice ethnic mix,’ but, ‘Isn’t she a lovely girl.’ ”

Fred Hayman, owner, Fred Hayman Beverly Hills: “Young, colorful, short, sexy, happy, fun and flirty.”