December 8, 2009

Fashion Icon: Audrey Hepburn

Simple Sophistication:

The continued success of skinny jeans, leggings and ballet flats has reminded of the timelessness of Audrey Hepburn.  A look she popularized almost lifetime ago is back in full force.  But are we really surprised?  While many stars fade away, Audrey’s popularity almost seems to be growing as new generations continue to fall in love with her.

With qualities not often found in celebrities, she was breath of fresh air in Hollywood.  Rarely one to complain, she was quite humble, and in fact, referred to her acting career as simply “a job.”  Her success remained a mystery to her throughout her life.

Perhaps this positive attitude and common sense can be attributed to her early life experiences.

When WWII came Knocking:

Shortly after she turned 11, WWII began unfolding before her eyes.  German soldiers invaded her town and ended up staying there for years.  She lost many loved ones and lived in fear amidst bombings and food shortages.  Eventually at the age of 16, she escaped with her family.  But she never seemed to forget the life lessons learned from those years.

Her Sense of Style:

Taught by her mother, the Baroness that “…Others matter more than you do, so don’t fuss, dear; get on with it.”  Hepburn dressed primarily in simple, neutral-colored clothing and without a lot of ornamentation.

The ironic part was that with her chic simplicity–she stood out–which was exactly what she was trying to avoid.

Fashioning your Inner Audrey:

Often we layer it on when creating an ensemble.  And in the bad cases, the look ends up wearing us.  With the restraint she used in her wardrobe choices, coupled with gracefulness reflective of her early years in ballet plus a sparkling personality…Hepburn owned her look.  Her ensembles never overpowered her big personality or petite frame.

The Key to her Look?

I think that’s the key to the Audrey Look; let yourself shine through.  I admit many times I go the opposite way;  more for the sake of more.  And I think that’s alright.  It’s my own look, which I love.  But every once in awhile I like to embrace my Inner Aubrey.  What about you?

Photos:

The following Polyvore set was created trying to keep simplicity in mind.  I admit, Audrey would have never chosen those shoes…but I just had to add a splash of my personality to the mix. 

To enlarge the following picture or for shopping info–just click on the DailyDivaDish tag above photo.  All Audrey Hepburn photos are courtesy of Google Images.

❤

Tags: audrey hepburn, Fashion