1990s
Scarlett Johansson (Steven Klein/W Magazine)
(Steven Klein/W)
Talk about fashion makeovers for the ages.
To commemorate its 40th anniversary, W magazine enlisted a glamorous galaxy of Hollywood A-list actresses, each of whom agreed to be made over in the style of one decade for its cover.
Big-screen hotties Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Wasikowska and Rooney Mara each got a hair, makeup and clothing overhaul to represent the 2000s, 1990s, 1980s and 1970s respectively.
The results are beautiful, the actresses are transformed — but the eras are unrecognizable.
Keira Knightley, no stranger to period costume, gets suited up to personify the 2000s. But her slicked back platinum androgynous ’do brings to mind . . . ’80s movie star Brigitte Nielsen?
It could equally conjure up art house man-woman actress Tilda Swinton, who made her name in the early aughts.
Obscure? Yes.
Knightley also wears a tweed power jacket with an open collar and diamond flower button earrings, all by Chanel, that are equally kind of ’80s. True, that when thinking about the most recent decade, it’s hard to pinpoint one cultural touchstone. Too soon perhaps?
Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, tackles the 1990s and looks like she’s gearing up for an early Halloween.
Sporting a nose ring, a tattoo, handfuls of rings and Frankenstein’s bride hair, she ends up looking more Goth than girl-next-door.
The pop culture reference is a bit clearer: she bears a striking resemblance to Madonna in her 1989 “Like a Prayer’’ video — complete with skunk stripe and little Dolce & Gabbana black dress.
But Madonnna cruised through a lot of looks in the decade that followed, and grunge is the commonly accepted 1990s aesthetic — that’s once again shaping fashion now.
It could be argued that Johansson’s look is kind of emo, which is a ’90s trend, but that started in the ’80s, too.
Also, “Alice in Wonderland” actress Mia Wasikowska takes on the 1980s in a Cyndi Lauper/Annie Lennox sort of way.
Rooney Mara, who in her role as “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” has practically become a poster child for punk, gets groovy in a ’70s look.
Both just as gorgeous.
And arguably much more error-free representatives of their eras.
serena.french@nypost.com