Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Audrey Hepburn




Some days I will meticulously set about composing an outfit. On other days, I'll throw on a tattered shirt, goodwill jeans, and some flip flops. I don't think that this shows inconsistency in style because I believe that it is more than choice of clothing. Style is displayed through a woman's compassion, her intelligence, her creativity, her love for the world. These are four things Audrey Hepburn never left home without. She lived with quiet dignity and humility. The same understated style that guided her choice of clothing also guided her daily actions. She maintained a clearly observable connection to her basic humanness, which allowed her to connect so wholeheartedly with the characters she played in film, remain close to her family and friends, and to empathize with the starving children that she aided later in life. She's a new role model of mine.



AH is remembered as a paragon of classic style, known for her simple and elegant ballet flats and button down oxford shirts, collar up, of course. (Above with Billy Wilder and William Wyler, directors of Sabrina.) She might have encouraged today's women to find their own style and stick with it, as opposed to becoming slaves to the latest trends.



She formed a lasting friendship with Humbert Givenchy after their first collaboration for the film, Sabrina. The two are photographed together above.



According to the biography written by her son, Audrey spent much of her developing childhood years in occupied Holland during World War II, and was severely malnourished, which had an impact on her figure later in life. (That's how come she's so skinny.) This experience also led her to become a spokesperson for UNICEF and visit places like Somalia... she could relate to these children whose basic needs went unmet. In the picture above she has recovered well and is about 16 years old.





Little interesting facts: Audrey carried messages for the Dutch resistance in her shoes; she dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina and managed to continue her study of ballet throughout her childhood; and when the occupation finally ended, malnourished and unhealthy, she was aided by UNICEF, the organization for which she later become a spokesperson and volunteer.











A charity has been founded in her name to benefit low income children. The link for more info, how to donate funds, and how to volunteer with UNICEF can be found here. For an interesting read, pick up Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit, by Sean Hepburn Ferrer. That's where I found these photos. He's not the best writer, but it reads like an interesting and heartfelt eulogy from a son to his Mom, and is worth a look-see if only for the pictures.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The little bullfighter is born!

I suppose this is how change happens...

One day you're sitting under a tree and you decide to do something, believe that you can accomplish it, and then go about making it happen. At the age of 16 I made a mental list of things to accomplish. After compiling this list I decided to take a break, which lasted about nine years... until my moment under the tree! I've decided to start actively checking things off, and currently am in the process of starting my own little business (number one on the list), which I have dubbed The Little Bullfighter. I'll be selling vintage clothing online via Etsy and my style blog: www.thelittlebullfighter.blogspot.com to kick things off. The first items will be up on the site around the 18th or 19th of August, I'm hoping. I need some time to take some photos and one of my lovely models won't be in town till next week. But hooray for grand inspiration and drive!

Speaking of inspiration, my love for classic style in clothing is surpassed only by my love for classic film and the people who made them. So for fun, and for inspiration for my latest business venture, I want to share a little bit of about some of my favorite men and women in black and white. And I'll throw in some other random bits of loveliness as I please. Whateva, whateva, I do what I want.



This is a picture of the tree I was sitting under. Anyone who knows where it is can understand why it brings me back to the age of 16, and why it inspires. :)

foggy mornings

Back in college I would occasionally get up early and sit on a bench that was carved out of a massive tree trunk and smoke cigarettes with m...