Film Inspiration: Love In the Afternoon

oldfilmsgoingthreadbare
Of all the stylish Audrey Hepburn films out there, and there are some pips, my favorite is Love in the Afternoon--in terms of the fashion, not story.  I absolutely adore every outfit she wears in the picture.  All the clothes were designed by Givenchy.  Here are a few of my very favorites.

ebay

This dress has such a pretty floral print with a low-ish back that is gathered, a high neck- line (of course) and accentuated waist.  

tumblr

The quintessential sleeveless boat-neck.  

intricatelydisheveled

Had I the chance to re-do my wedding, I would want to wear something like this dress Audrey wears to the opera.  Amazing.

lifelibertyelegance

This is my favorite because it is so timeless and simple.

rottentomatoes


vintagegal

audreyandmarilyn

How cute is this?  It is no wonder that she remains an icon.

kellyandhepburn
Here she is on set but not dressed for the role. She looks just as perfect in her comfy clothes as she does in the costumes for the movie.  Who wouldn't want this sweater even today?
I have to add here that I realize Audrey Hepburn is loved and revered by almost everyone and that fact makes me want to run the other way.  'Why?' you ask:  Maybe it is the rebel in me.  That voice that says 'it isn't original to like what everyone likes.'  In this case, though, I silence that voice because the masses are right.  Good taste deserves to be preserved.

Style Inspiration: Jackie O

Jackie O.
I bought a book entitled Young Jackie for my little niece of the same name.  I flipped through the book and it is full of beautiful pictures of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis taken throughout her childhood by famed photographer Bert Morgan.  There is a little bit of biographical information included between the pages of beautiful black and white pictures, most of which depict a young Jackie on horseback. 
I love the idea of my little Jackie having a role model such as Jackie O to look up to; and how cool is it to have a role model with the same name?!  Of course, that's not reason enough for a little girl to look up to someone, but Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis definitely fits all of what should be the criteria for a young lady to aspire towards.  She was not only a fashion icon, she was also a contributor to the arts and she was a truly graceful, cultured woman.  In her later years, she returned to her love of literature and became an editor.

image via

image via

Upon graduating from college with a degree in French literature, she and her sister, who had graduated from high school at the same time, took a trip to Europe together.  They documented their journey in the autobiographical One Special Summer. 

image via

The book contains drawings, poems, letters and musings by both sisters.  I found a first edition copy on ebay, but you can find copies at online retailers.  It is an interesting read, and something that would be fun to do for your own travels.  Thanks to sites like snapfish, it is easier than ever to put together your own little book to document your travels.

From the book, a drawing by Jackie O.
image via

Of course one could argue that Jackie O is most remembered for her iconic style throughout her White House years and beyond. The following images certainly help make that point!

Look at that coat!  On some people, that print would be overwhelming,
but not on Jackie O- on her, it is just amazing and classic!
image via

Love her in white pants and a
black top, and that white trench is
pretty fabulous too!
image via

image via

President and Mrs. Kennedy-
I love her in timeless, chic navy, and that scarf is
perfection.
image via

~Lori

Babe Paley

As I was reading my 5th Avenue, 5 A.M. book, I started thinking about closets.  Why did a book about Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's make me think about closets?  Because one of Truman's possible inspirations for Holly Golightly was Barbara Cushing Mortimer Paley, a socialite and American fashion icon.  Barbara "Babe" Paley made the best dressed list fourteen times before being inducted into the International Best Dressed List in 1958. 
At one point, Babe was a Vogue fashion editor.  After her first marriage ended in divorce, Babe married William S. Paley, the founder of CBS.  Before her marriage to Paley, Babe dressed in high fashion largely thanks to her position at Vogue.  After her marriage, her wardrobe only expanded, as she would often buy entire haute couture collections from designers such as Givenchy (designer of the famous LBD in Breakfast).  She was (and arguably, still is) an inspiration to millions of women everywhere.  Have you ever casually tied a scarf around your handbag?  Babe is to thank for that; one day she nonchalantly tied her scarf around her purse to free up her hands, was photographed, and within a week a trend was born. 

with husband, CBS founder Bill Paley

photographed for Vogue

photograph by Slim Aarons

 In his book, Sam Wasson talks about the "labyrinthine dressing room of hidden closets containing over a hundred drawers, each one lined with pale blue stripes and labeled according to their contents.  There were six that had nightgowns alone..."  I would love to see pictures of that closet (she had more than one closet, of course, since they had at least three other places they called home during various times of the year. 
Originally this post was going to feature amazing closets, but as I was writing and researching Babe Paley, I decided that she deserved her own separate post.  She continues to be a huge influence in the world of fashion, and she is a major fashion icon even if much of the general public doesn't realize it anymore.  As Truman Capote once wrote, "Babe Paley had only one fault.  She was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect.”

~Lori

p.s. On an unrelated note, I'd like to say congratulations to my friend Jared Blake (from NBC's The Voice) on the release of his new single, "Don't Mind" which comes out today!  You can purchase it on itunes and Amazon.