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Friday, August 21, 2009

OLD VALUES REVISITED?


Is there at last a slight trend towards, or should I say, backwards, to classy dress and sophistication amongst young socialites and those in the entertainment industry? Some, it seems, have 'discovered' Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel and other classy women of the past. I don't know about you but browsing the social columns of late, I am seeing less crotch, boobs, bad hair, fingers raised, face pulling, too much makeup and seeing more stylishly dressed (less skin), elegantly coiffed, beautiful young females. Of course, some of them have inherited good taste from their Mothers and Grandmothers and will always be ladylike. I truly hope that this is an about-turn and we are seeing some of the old values revisited.

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

"Sabrina" lookalikes?
Hands off hips girls and smile!

A celebration of 80 years of Audrey was launched two days ago in Sydney with Rosemount Fashion Week. Fifty models were made up to look like Audrey Hepburn to celebrate what would have been Audrey's 80th Birthday and, clad in little black and white dresses, oversized sunglasses and dripping in pearls, they paraded in Sydney's business district. Their outfits were put together by designer, Jayson Brunsdon, who opened the show. There was also a release of Paramount Home Entertainment's upcoming "80 Years of Audrey" collection.

Audrey drove one of these -
1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda
There ain't nothing like the original!
Audrey, that is...

For information on the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund, click here.

10 comments:

steven said...

hi alaine, i love the woman, i love the car - the only mercedes i ever loved - the 280sl- and i love the look!!! for me the most important detail is that people are real. as real as they can be. i'd love to lose a lot of the phony glitter and glam. if you're stunning it's about the whole of you and not just boobs etc. but perhaps that's the perspective of a 52 year old man i dunno!!! see you again. steven

Susan said...

Audrey Hepburn was, and still is, one of my favorite actresses. She was as much a lady offscreen as she was when portraying a character, and her charitable work made her beloved worldwide. She made the "little black dress" what is is today. Oh, to have that kind of class!

Love that car, too! It looks like something one would imagine her driving. Wish I were in Sidney right now! (Not that I would ever be invited to attend Fashion Week! LOL)

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

I adore Audrey Hepburn. Yes, she had incredible style, but what most riveted me was her dignity. I especially recall the dignity of her walking away at the end of two very different movies: The Nun's Story and The Children's Hour.

If I ever have a moment of not being able to get in touch with my own sense of intrinsic worth, I think of Audrey, try to assume her magnificent posture - and before I know it - worth and dignity are remembered and assumed by my body/mind.

Alaine, I have given you an award on my blog - hope you will drop by to get the details.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Hi Alaine - thanks - the URL has been changed and works. Enjoy the award.

Tess Kincaid said...

I need to get one of those classy cigarette holders. They are so sexy. And I don't even smoke.

alaine@éclectique said...

Steven, isn't the 280SL spiffy!

Susan, she was a wonderful woman and I'd love to have that package of her films.

Bonnie, the end scene of 'The Nun's Story' is indelible on my mind. I must remember try that exercise of yours. And thankyou for the Award!

Willow, I once owned two cigarette holders but only half the size of that one Audrey has. I gave up the coffin nails 16 years ago.

Tracy said...

Celebrating Audrey... Oh, I'd love to be there! I just love Audrey, always have since I saw "Sabrina" in my early teens...My style and all-around good person guru. It would be great if there was a revival of truly classy style and manners. I'm all for it. In a modern world where much of good manners among youth has been diminishing, good manners over good dress would be the thing. Fun post, Alaine! Happy weekend :o)

Unknown said...

Hi Alaine,

None of the girls in the fashion pic come close to Audrey! Not a hint of warmth in any of 'em!

The company, 'Halcyon Days', that makes enamel objets has just announced collections in honour of four famous ladies, including Audrey, Jackie O, Coco Chanel and Elsie de Wolf(?). The design for Audrey is a pink background with a rope of pearls!

studioJudith said...

I'll have to join the group on loving the "concept" of the cigarette
holder ... . but, my fav Mercedes is
a bit older and rounder.
It would be the 1959 190 sl.
I was fortunate to have had one of those in my garage in the mid '80s ... quite the classy traffic stopper.
I think Audrey would have liked it, too.
JJjjj

alaine@éclectique said...

Hello Tracy, yes, MANNERS, where are they today?

Hello Derrick, That's what I thought about that pic of the girls. There were a couple on the TV who had that certain 'piquancy'. I should imagine that those objets will walk off the shelves!

Hello Judith, Did you know that the Mercedes car was named after the daughter of a Mr. Emil Jellinek? He had a custom-built Daimler made and it won its first race, so he gave it the pet name of Mercedes. It was the custom in the late 1800s to give cars pet names apparently.