During the mid-to-late 1950s, Wood underwent extensive tests to shed her childhood image from films like Miracle on 34th Street. Studio tests focused on finding a balance between youthful innocence and emerging mature glamor. Her tests from this era favor natural skin, defined dark eyebrows, and a classic red lip. She frequently posed next to name placards and wooden ladders used by studio crews to calibrate lighting for Technicolor film batches.

By the 1960s, Wood was a premier leading lady. Her tests shifted from checking character suitability to managing elaborate, high-fashion costume wardrobes created by legendary designers. Her signature 1960s style evolved dramatically. Her routine emphasized a pale, luminous complexion achieved by brushing on loose translucent powder. She popularized pitch-dark, thickly coated eyelash tips, subtle eyebrow penciling, and a distinct double-layer lip look featuring bright orange lipstick applied directly over a crimson base.