(My) Fashion Trendsetters: AUDREY HEPBURN

“My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn
by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses,
and the little sleeveless dresses.”

Audrey Hepburn quote

Here is a You Tube Tribute to Audrey Hepburn:

“There was something in her smile, in her eyes, in her timeless and natural elegance…” Here is such fabulous photos of her in Retro Hairstyles has this fabulous photo of Audrey Hepburn

Those of you who have been following my blogs know that I was/am rather lively of myself like jumping off moving trains, jumping off a ski jump and such things; in other words not so ladylike, eh?!! Well, let me tell you that, when I was in my early to mid-teens I started to collect pictures off the magazines with styles of fashions, clothes and so on for many years. Then in my late teens I went through my collection of pics and put aside the ones which still appealed to me at that stage. And guess what, my preferred style in fashion was LADYLIKE!! I remember saying to my Mum: “Ooh if I only was older so that I could wear it!” Mom’s reaction: rolling her eyes, actually!

Audrey Hepburn has been on my list of fashion trendsetters always and I still think that she is elegance and chic personified. Remember the entry I did some weeks ago called “The Little Black Dress @ 81” where I mentioned about that famous dress designed by Givenchy specially for Audrey Hepburn and which was worn by Audrey on the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Apparently, the Fashion House of Givenchy bought it back ‘home’ so to say, I read in an article. Interesting.

The article ”Going Lightly For Pearls” states that ‘Coco Chanel made pearls chic in the 1920’s and Audrey made them glamorous again four decades later. Pearls have been worn in both jewelry and clothing since antiquity, but until recently they were the province of the very rich. Sumptuary laws in ancient Rome as well as certain kingdoms of Europe into the 17th century prevented the lower social classes from wearing pearls. It wasn’t until the modern pearl cultivation industry took off in the 1900s that the lovely orbs became an affordable luxury.’

”Hepburn is famous for the poem “Time Tested Beauty Tips”, which she used to recite to her sons. The poem includes verses such as, “For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day”, and, “For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.” The poem is popularly attributed to her, but it was in fact written by Sam Levenson. (Wikipedia)

Audrey Hepburn to this day is a beauty and fashion icon. She has often been called one of the most beautiful women of all time. Her fashion styles also continue to be popular among women.Contrary to her recent image, although Hepburn did enjoy fashion, she did not place much importance on it. She preferred casual, comfortable clothes. In addition, she never considered herself to be very attractive.(Wikipedia)

She said in a 1959 interview, “you can even say that I hated myself at certain periods. I was too fat, or maybe too tall, or maybe just plain too ugly… you can say my definiteness stems from underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority. I couldn’t conquer these feelings by acting indecisive. I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive.”(Wikipedia)

Despite her stardom, Hepburn retained her humility. She preferred a more quiet living with family and nature. She lived in houses, not mansions, and she loved to garden.

“You can always tell what kind of a person a man really thinks you are by the earrings he gives you”

Audrey Hepburn quote

Tis for now. Riihele xx

SABRINA THE MOVIE (1954)
AUDREY HEPBURN CHILDREN’S FUND
A WONDERFUL PHOTO OF AUDREY HEPBURN AND GRACE KELLY IN THIS SITE
http://www.monroegallery.com/detail.cfm?id=616.
TRENDS FOR 2007/2008

Looking Good: HAIR

“I’d luv to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair.”

Bette Davis
(American actress 1908-1989)

All of the females know the saying: ‘To have a Good Hair Day’ when everything of you and on you looks absolutely a million dollars! The opposite is also so familiar to us. I came to think of this subject because my hair is showing signs of needing a good crop, a sprucing up and a re-styling. Planning to get it done ASAP; i.e., the hairdresser will have a time slot for me.

Talking about hairdressers; the worst ones ever to cross my path were in Sweden, who simply had no clue as how to cut hair. I went to several highly recommended ones but to no avail. Disaster after disaster, I am telling you! My hair is silken in texture but thick and naturally curly – I keep it as straight as I can manage it, so when a hairdresser sees it, they think ‘ooh, easy-peasy…!’ But it isn’t, and shocking hairdos are dished out to me time after time.

My approach to a new country, to a new town and a new hairdresser therein is with the outmost caution these days – after so many woeful shocks what else could I be?! The very best hairdressers I have had, have all been in Ireland, in particular. Even there anytime my familiar hairdresser moved on or changes to another town, I bid them a sad farewell, thinking:

‘ Where to next?!’

In Israel the early adventures of my haircuts there were not positive so while living there the last time I fine combed – – an enormous amount of them before I trusted anyone to touch my hair. Why? Well, the last haircut I had in Eilat one time before travelling back to Scandinavia was the one where I was given a happy zig-zag all around the head in the various lengths et cetera. More of a very, very bad hair day in a nightmare. So this time while there my caution paid off as the ‘research’ – which was letting them wash my hair at the most in places, sometimes not even that, but it did give a feel of the place.

Finally I walked into a very stylish and posh looking place thinking that this could be it and saw four hairdressers sitting there and asked them in a friendly but no nonsense style:

Me: “Are you all hairdressers?

They : “Yes.”

Me: “Who is the best of you to cut hair?”

They: “Zvi is.”

So that was that. Zvi, the owner, became my hairdresser and Hanan, his sidekick, too, as they were both equally talented at the art of haircutting and styling. The salon gave Lattes, Cappuccinos and sodas on the house. Nice touch. My beverage of choice there was Espresso, which was done in a real machine, no instant packet stuff there. In Ireland one could have a cup of tea or the instant coffee-powder coffee. In Finland not even the packet stuff is offered in any of the salons that I have been in. (Anyhow, offering an instant coffee to a Finn would be considered an insult. This country takes its coffee very seriously.)

Now I am back in Finland and here again the research was done with a comb so fine that I thought that there was none to do the hair until I found Lea. And does she know how to cut, indeed, she does, and with such a flair to boot!

Do Have A Good Hair Day!

Tis for now. Riihele xx.

© Photo: By Riihele. All rights reserved.

Tips on hairstyles and such like in this link and this here.