Audrey Quotes

Today is the last day of Audrey week so I will leave you with some words from the lady herself. Here are a few of my favourite Audrey quotes:

♥ “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” 

♥ “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!” 

♥ “I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” 

♥ “The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.”

♥ “The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” 

♥ “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” 

♥ “Paris is always a good idea.” 

♥“I'm an introvert... I love being by myself, love being outdoors, love taking a long walk with my dogs and looking at the trees, flowers, the sky.” 

♥ “Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present, and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.” 

♥ “Why change? Everyone has his own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it.” 

♥ “people, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” 

♥ “Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.” 

♥ “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” 

Daily Outfit - Audrey Style

I've been having a week of technical failures so it came as no surprise that when I tried to upload the pictures of my Audrey inspired outfit onto my computer the pictures were corrupted. So unfortunately there is no outfit post today but I will try to re-shoot the outfit and get the pictures up soon!

Audrey Week: Fashion in Audrey's Movies

Today we will be focusing on Audrey Hepburn as a fashion icon. As well as her amazing film career, Audrey was most known for her timeless sense of style. Her style has been admired and copied by several generations of women. Even today, a decade after her death Audrey is considered one of the most beautiful and stylish women in the world.

Audrey was breaking into the film career at a time when actresses were invariably blonde, big bosomed and curvy and so being a skinny flat chested girl with short brunette hair, bushy eyebrows, a long neck and big feet she is an unlikely style icon but Audrey became a role model with a new look of androgynous yet feminine women dressed impeccably in Parisian chic. This offered women an alternative to the blonde bombshell of the 50's and 60's.

Audrey's image has always been linked to high fashion. From her first major role as Princess Ann Audrey was always conscious of her on-screen image. Audrey showed a flair for style by adding to costume designer Edith's heads outfit ideas adding a wide leather belt, rolling up her sleeves and neck scarf thus personalising an already pretty outfit.

After wining the Oscar for Roman Holiday Audrey was free to control her look without interference from the studio and she found exactly what she was looking for in the fashion house of one Hubert de Givenchy. Givenchy's innovative modern designs were suited to Audrey's figure and the persona she wanted to create and the pair struck a lifelong friendship that lasted for over 40 years.

Givenchy perfectly understood Audrey's appeal and dressed her in such a way to show off her natural beauty without her being overwhelmed by the dresses. Audrey once said "I depend on Givenchy the way American women depend on their psychiatrists".

The great Hepburn- Givenchy collaboration can be seen in the movies Sabrina where Givenchy's designs are integral to the story of a frustrated unhappy girl who leave for Paris and comes back an elegant lady. Emphasising this change Sabrina comes back with a completely new wardrobe designed by Givenchy.

Fashion itself took centre stage in Audrey's next movie Funny Face. Another story of transformation  Audrey plays Jo Stockton a mousy bookseller who is transformed into a fashion model. in Jo's first encounter with 'fashion people' that invade her store she declares that fashion is superficial and stupid but it is a kiss from Dick Avery and a Givenchy hat accidentally left behind that triggers her fantasies of romance The hat signals Jo's first step in her transformation. The transformation is complete when Jo appears in the Louvre in the stunning red strapless gown, gloves and diamonds with her red chiffon scarf floating behind her. She is the vision of ethereal beauty.

Breakfast at Tiffany's cemented Audrey's status as a movie star and fashion icon. The opening image of her exiting a cab in the stunning black evening gown and standing in front of the window of Tiffany's eating a danish and sipping coffee is perhaps the most famous and well remembered image of Audrey. That dress is cited as one of the most iconic of the 20th century and film history. It has been described as "perhaps the most famous little black dress of all time"

Givenchy continued to dress Audrey throughout the height of her movie career and also for her personal collection. In 2009 Audrey's Givenchy collection sold for £270,000. Audrey's iconic film looks are still much copied by celebrities today.

Audrey Hepburn Week: Audrey's Personal Style

In her personal life Audrey kept her style simple but chic. Her classic look which was timeless and still much copied today did not really change into her advancing years. Audrey had an ingrained sense of style which meant that she knew how to dress her usual proportions to show off her gamine figure.  This she did with the help of couturier Hubert de Givenchy who as well as designing her film costumes designed for Audrey's personal wardrobe.

Givenchy's simple graceful style perfectly matched Audrey's dress sense and together the created a timeless elegance that women all over the world still aspire to today.

In order to achieve Audrey's style:
♥ Think cut - clothes must be well fitted classic shapes 

♥ Know what looks good on you and stick to it, do not follow fleeting trends but wear classic styles. Find clothes that show off your best assets and hide the parts of you that you are less happy with.  Audrey had a tiny 22" waist and often wore clothed that cinched at the waist to show it off. 

♥ Keep it simple - Audrey often opted for a less fussy, simplistic look. Audrey once said: Indeed, she once said: "Boil it all down to what counts the most: What is the essence of what you are trying to do, what is the most important thing? Things only get complicated when you try to address too many issues."

♥ Pay attention to grooming - Audrey was always well groomed and neat. Her hair was always styled even if it was in a simple ponytail and her eyebrows though thick were always tidy and well manicured. 

♥ Accessorise - Audrey often opted for a pair of large glasses and a hat or head scarf 

Items found in Audrey's wardrobe:
♥ A classic white skirt
♥ The little black dress in a pencil style shift dress or with a circle skirt 
♥ Ballet pump shoes or kitten heels
♥ A well fitted suit 
♥ Skinny or straight cut capris, slacks or jeans in a classic dark denim 
♥ turtleneck, button down shirts, or t-shirts in a plain colour or breton stripes 
♥ Accesories - hats, scarfs, classic jewellery such as pearls, big dark glasses 

The Bookworm Presents: Audrey Hepburn - A Life in Pictures

Audrey Hepburn a Life in Pictures is a  lavishly illustrated book which celebrates Audrey's popularity as an enduring icon, providing a unique insight into her career, personality and trademark style that still fascinate and captivates today.

The book begins with a foreword by fashion designer and long time friend of Audrey, Hubert de Givenchy. It goes on to a concise yet detailed biography of Audrey's Life which is accompanied by over 160 photographs, many reproduced for the first time and taken by some of the world's top photographers. 

Famous quotes on and from Audrey Hepburn complement the impressive iconographic research, which includes numerous family pictures as well as information from private collections, press agencies and newspapers. From her enchanting appearances on the big screen to her charity work for UNICEF and fascinating family life, this book is a highly individual portrait of a much-loved movie and fashion legend.

This book is a must for all Audrey Fans!

The Bookworm Presents: Audrey Hepburn - The Paramount Years by Tony Nourmand

Audrey Hepburn's exquisite style and grace is much documented - her debut Roman Holiday in 1953 redefined perceived notions of Hollywood glamour and ushered in an age of sophistication and elegance. Hepburn's legacy on screen and in fashion is undisputed her image attaining that rare feat in cinema of becoming as synonymous with her fame as her films.

Audrey Hepburn - The Paramount Years collects together for the first time those memorable billboard images which established her iconic status. Featuring the golden period of Hepburn's film career, this sumptuous book included never-seen-before post artwork for Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Paris when it Sizzles along with magazine covers from the period, lobby cards, stunning costume designs and rare behind the scene stills for her Paramount films. 

The book is split into chapter covering the movies mentioned above. Each contains an array of amazing photos and art work including movie posters and costume designs for the films. 

There is also a foreword by Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, an introduction by the author himself and chapters including: 

Collecting Audrey: What Price Fame? by Sarah Hodgson which discuses the popularity and prices paid for Audrey memorabilia over the years including personal letters and family items. Audrey Hepburn: Movie S

Star and Fashion Icon by Andreas Timmer which discuses Audrey unlikely image as a style icon, her love of fashion and her relationship with Givency.

Audrey Style: Her Enduring Magic Lives On by June Marsh which discuses Audrey's always impeccable style which is still much copied today.

This book is simply enchanting and is a must for any Audrey fan. My only gripe with it is that it does not cover all the movies that Audrey made with Paramount. Audrey signed a 7 picture contract with Paramount but there is no mention of War and Peace and I cannot find a seventh film that Audrey did with paramount! 

Audrey Hepburn Week: Books

There are a whole host of books about Audrey and I will be reviewing a couple this week. I had hoped to order some more from the list below to read and review but time and money prevented me from doing so. No matter. Here is a list of just some of the vast tittles about Audrey:

An Elegant Spirit:  A son remembers by Sean Hepburn Ferrer

is a biography of Audrey's life written by her son Sean. I have yet to read it but it is definitely on my to buy list.

Fifth Avenue, 5a.m. by Sam Wasson

is a book about the creation of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. From the creation of the novella by Truman Capote, to the rise of Audrey Hepburn's star and her casting to play the role of Holly Golightly. I reviewed the book a few month back. You can find the review here.

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo 

is a beautiful book aimed at children and one that will definitely be gracing our future daughter's bookshelf. The book is a simplistic story of Audrey's life with stunning illustrations by Julia Denos.

Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years by Tony Nourmand

is a stunning collection of original poster artwork and classic photography from the golden period of Audrey Hepburn's career. I will be reviewing the book later today.

What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Clarke Keogh

The author of the bestselling Audrey Style brings a charming dose of Audrey Hepburn into our everyday lives, with wisdom on relationships, fashion, home, travel and other opportunities for sophisticated living. Audrey Hepburn epitomises generosity, glamour and beauty.

Audrey Style by Pamela Clark Keogh

Audrey Hepburn was one of the most admired and emulated women of the twentieth century, and has become a timeless style icon. But her beauty was more than skin deep and for the first time, this style biography reveals the details made up her appeal

Audrey Hepburn: A Life in Pictures by YB Editions

From her captivating debut in Roman Holiday in 1953, Audrey Hepburn redefined notions of Hollywood elegance and sophistication. This lavishly illustrated book celebrates Audrey's popularity as an enduring icon, providing a unique insight into her career, personality and trademark style that still fascinate and captivates today.

How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy

Christy shows women how in this guide to glamorous style, professional success and true love...the classy way.

How to be Lovely by Melissa Hellstern

Writer Melissa Hellstern has spent five years collecting some of the late icon's most remarkable words in this beautifully designed and produced book filled with rare photos, behind-the-scenes stories and insights from the friends who knew Hepburn well.

Audrey Hepburn by Bob Willoughby

In his distinguished career as a Hollywood photographer, the author took iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Fonda, but remains unequivocal about his favorite subject: Audrey Kathleen Ruston, best known as Audrey Hepburn. This title features his photographs that seek out the many facets of Hepburn's beauty and elegance.

Audrey Hepburn: Fair Lady of the Screen by Ian Woodward

A biography of Audrey Hepburn. In addition to her illustrious film career, this book sheds light on the charity work she did for UNICEF, her personal fight against cancer, and the way in which she dedicated the last years of her life to bringing help and hope to the starving children of the world.

So Audrey: 59 Ways to Put a Little Hepburn in Your Step by Cindy De La Hoz

Legendary superstar, trend setter, and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn remains the epitome of style, charm, and humility in the face of enviable beauty for women of all ages. Filled with fashion and lifestyle tips inspired by Audrey, paired with photos, this book imparts 59 little ways to put some Hepburn in your step.

Audrey Hepburn by Barry Paris

This personal account of Hollywood's most gracious star includes insights of family and friends who have never before spoken to a Hepburn biographer, and includes never-before-published photos, creating a in-depth portrait of the actress, from her childhood in Nazi-occupied Europe, through her legendary career, and into her United Nations ambassadorship.

Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl by Scott Brisell

Collects more than 500 international magazine covers featuring Audrey Hepburn published over the course of her life and career - many featuring photographs of the star. This book contains a biographical text that accompanies the images, offering fresh insights and context on her on- and off-screen life and tracing the evolution of her image.

Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto

Born in Brussels in 1929, Audrey Hepburn was the daughter of a British father and a Dutch Baroness. After a few West End musicals and minor film parts, she was spotted by the author, Colette, to star in a stage version of her novel, "Gigi". And then Audrey's career took off. This book captures the spirit of an elusive, and vulnerable woman.

Adieu Audrey: Memories of Audrey Hepburn by Klaus-Jurgen Sembach

She was living evidence that fairy tales are real and that angles can come down to earth. It was Colette who discovered the too tall and too thin girl with expressive eyes, then a complete unknown, and made her the lead in the 1951 Broadway production of Gigi. Her film triumphs were all the more astonishing since she didn't match the usual Hollywood cliches. Petite, almost androgynous, and with a disarming naturalness, she had a worldwide impact on fashion and beauty trends and was enthusiastically welcomed as an alternative to the sex bombs and pin-up girls of the 50s. This book, with an essay by Klaus-Jurgen Sembach, is dedicated to Audrey Hepburn who died in 1993. It includes the best film stills, portraits, and private photographs by well-known and by unknown photographers from all over the world who have provided us with an immortal image of Hollywood's most endearing star.

Audrey Hepburn Week: Movies - Audrey's Comeback and Final Roles

Audrey attempted a comeback in 1976, co-starring with Sean Connery, in the period piece Robin and Marian, which was moderately successful.

In 1979, Hepburn took the lead role of Elizabeth Roffe in the international production of Bloodline, re-teaming with director Terence Young (Wait Until Dark). She shared top billing with co-stars Alan Arkin, Ben Gazzara, James Mason and Romy Schneider.

Audrey's last starring role in a cinematic film was with Ben Gazzara in the 1981 comedy They All Laughed, directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film was overshadowed by the murder of one of its stars, Bogdanovich's girlfriend, Dorothy Stratten; the film was released after Stratten's death but only in limited runs.

Audrey's last film role was a cameo appearance as an angel in Steven Spielberg's Always in 1988.

Audrey Hepburn Week: Movies - Continued Stardom

Three months after the birth of her son, Sean, in 1960, Hepburn began work on Blake Edwards' Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), a film very loosely based on the Truman Capote novella. This became Audrey's defining role. Her portrayal was nominated for the 1961 Academy Award for Best Actress and became an iconic character in American cinema.

Playing opposite Shirley MacLaine and James Garner, her next role in William Wyler's lesbian-themed drama The Children's Hour (1961) saw Hepburn and MacLaine play teachers whose lives become troubled after a student accuses them of being lesbians. The film was one of Hollywood's earliest treatments of the subject of lesbianism.

Her only film with Cary Grant came in the comic thriller Charade (1963). Hepburn, who plays Regina Lampert, finds herself pursued by several men who chase the fortune her murdered husband had stolen. The role earned her third and final competitive BAFTA Award and accrued another Golden Globe nomination

Paris When It Sizzles (1964) reteamed Hepburn with William Holden nearly ten years after Sabrina. The Parisian-set screwball comedy, called "marshmallow-weight hokum" was panned but critics were kind to Hepburn's creation of Gabrielle Simpson, the young assistant of a Hollywood screenwriter (Holden) who aids his writer's block by acting out his fantasies of possible plots.

Hepburn next landed the role of cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. This caused controversy   because Julie Andrews, who had originated the role in the stage show, had not been offered the part because producer Jack Warner thought Hepburn or Elizabeth Taylor more "bankable" propositions. Initially refusing, Audrey asked Warner to give it to Andrews but, eventually, Hepburn was cast. Further friction was created when, although non-singer Hepburn had sung with "throaty charm" in Funny Face and had lengthy vocal preparation for the role in My Fair Lady,her vocals were dubbed by Marni Nixon.

Hepburn's next film was the heist comedy How to Steal a Million (1966) where she played Nicole, the daughter of a famous art collector whose collection consists entirely of forgeries.

In 1967, she starred in two films; the first being Two for the Road, a non-linear and innovative British dramedy that traces the course of a couple's troubled marriage.

The second, Wait Until Dark, is a suspense thriller in which Hepburn demonstrated her acting range by playing the part of a terrorised blind woman.

After this time and 15 years in film Audrey decided to take a break from acting to be a mother and spend time with her family.

The final post will cover Audrey's comeback and her final roles

Audrey Hepburn Week - Movies: Audrey's Rising Star

Audrey's rise to fame happened when she got the starring roll of Princess Ann in Roman Holiday  Producers initially wanted Elizabeth Taylor for the role, director William Wyler was so impressed by Hepburn's screen test that he cast her in the lead. Originally, the film was to have had only Gregory Peck's name above its title, with "Introducing Audrey Hepburn" beneath in smaller font. However, Peck suggested to Wyler that he elevate her to equal billing so that her name appeared before the title and in type as large as his. Wyler did this and Audrey won an Oscar for the role.

After Roman Holiday Audrey signed a seven picture deal with Paramount studios. Her next movie was Sabrina where she played the title role. Audrey was nominated for the 1954 Academy Award for Best Actress while winning the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role the same year.

Having become one of Hollywood's most popular box-office attractions, she went on to star in a series of successful films during the remainder of the decade, including her BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated role as Natasha Rostova in War and Peace (1956), an adaptation of the Tolstoy novel set during the Napoleonic wars with Henry Fonda and husband Mel Ferrer. 

In 1957, she exhibited her dancing abilities in her debut musical film Funny Face (1957) where Fred Astaire, a fashion photographer, discovers a beatnik bookstore clerk (Hepburn), who, lured by a free trip to Paris, becomes a beautiful model. 

The same year Hepburn starred in another romantic comedy, Love in the Afternoon, alongside Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier.

She played Sister Luke in The Nun's Story (1959), which focuses on the character's struggle to succeed as a nun alongside co-star Peter Finch. The role accrued her third Academy Award nomination and earned her a second BAFTA Award.

Following this, she received lukewarm reception for starring with Anthony Perkins in the romantic adventure Green Mansions (1959) where she plays—"with grace and dignity"—the "ethereal" Rima, a jungle girl, who falls in love with a Venezuelan traveller played by Perkins, 

The Unforgiven (1960), her only western film, where she appears "a bit too polished, too fragile and civilized among such tough and stubborn types" of Burt Lancaster and Lillian Gish in a story of racism against a group of Native Americans.

The next post will cover Audrey's continued stardom after her most iconic roll Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's 

Audrey Hepburn Week - Movies: Audrey's Early Roles

After being spotted by an ABPC casting director in Sauce Piquante, Audrey Hepburn registered with the British film studio as a freelance actress while working in the West End.

Audrey's first role was as a Hotel receptionist in One Wild Oat, a British film starring  Stanley Holloway, Robertson Hare and Sam Costa. The film was adapted by Vernon Sylvaine from his 1948 play. 

Audrey's second role was in The Lavender Hill Mob as Chiquita. Audrey is in the film for one short scene that is less than a minute long but Audrey remember the role fondly and said she was thrilled to be able to work with Alec Guinness 

Audrey's next role was Laughter in Paradise as Frieda the cigarette girl. Audrey was originally offered one of the major female roles in this film, but was committed to a stage play and had to turn it down. She ended up with a bit role playing a sexy cigarette girl instead.

Her next role was Young Wives' Tale, a 1951 British film directed by Henry Cass. Audrey has a minor role as Eve Lester, a shy woman to share a house with two couples after a post-war housing crisis. Comic situations arise as the new roomer becomes infatuated with one of the husbands. 

Here is Audrey  in One Wild Oat, Young Wives' Tale and Laughter in Paradise:

Audrey's first major supporting role came in Secret People when she played Nora Brentano, a prodigious ballerina. Audrey performed all of her own dancing sequences.

Hepburn was then offered a small role in the film being shot in both English and French Monte Carlo Baby (Nous Irons à Monte Carlo). t was during the filming of this movie that Hepburn met Colette, who recommended her for a stage version of her novel, "Gigi." This led directly to her being cast in Roman Holiday.

The next post will cover Audrey's rise to fame after getting the starring role in Roman Holiday.