I some times wonder what is more important - quality or quantity ? And in that context I take my thoughts to the next level , whether beauty brain and style co exist . Its a rare combination though .
For brain typifies quality and , loosely beauty is quantity . But when some one possesses all in one - dignified beauty, unparallel grace and superb intelligence then what we end up with is pure visual & intellectual delight ..
Through out my life and even now and probably till eternity I have been , have and will be attracted towards people with grace and style. Brain has captivated me as much as beauty that God bestows on lucky few.
My topic tonight is a rare, very rare species of all of the above .
Hardly in the last 100 years some one has influenced world of fashion style and glitteretti in a way that she has done . Yes my topic tonight is one of the greatest fashion icons of the world and arguably the greatest ever . Sad we have lost her 24 odd years back but her presence courtesy the celluloid still lingers in our mind.
I do not deny for a moment that I grew up more English than a Bengali in a very middle class Bengali background for my parents were extra careful to imbibe in me the ENGLISHMAN rather than a babumoshai , may be a shadow of the fact that they never had the opportunity to become one . It is this influence of the occidental that has left indelible impressions of the British more in me than the Intellectual Bengali . And this longing of the western world and all that is not so Oriental made me at a very young age tilt towards hollywood which I have always admitted in different blogs of mine. Not to take anything away from my bengali intellectualism that makes me sway between Tagore, Ray, Sen and Ganguly, I am strongly rooted and firm in my love for western movies and stars since 1900 till today . As much as I love Uttam Kumar and Saumitra Chattopadhyay , my admiration for CLINT EASTWOOD & MARLON BRANDO has never been less eloquent to name a few.
So much so for the male bastion. I have never been a chauvanist and my admiration and love for women of substance has always been there and will be . It is then in this light that I wish to view and analyse the lady I am talking about .
She was diminutive and petite ,frail and beautiful , elegant and full of eternal poise ever since she was born in Rue Keyenveld in Ixelles, Brussels , Belgium to a honorary British Consul and a Dutch Baroness . So much so that the elegance and style that was to be a hallmark and trademark of hers in later years were all due to her genes.
Her early childhood was sheltered and privileged. Her outstanding parental background allowed her to learn five languages : Dutch, English, French, Spanish and Italian. She started taking ballet lessons during her last few years at Arnhem during 1944-45.
She made her screen debut in 1948 as an air stewardess in Dutch in Seven Lessons , although her coveted filmography and glittering career is not my main focal point here still as an intrinsic part of her life in general , one is but tempted to touch on the same.
It was her 8th movie 5 years later that the whole world was struck by a beauty unparallel who had out of the world grace and unbelievable wit . The world suddenly woke up to notice.
1953 was when she announced her iconic presence to this world - an european princess , escaping reins of royalty falls for an American Journo . She exuded loades of charm , innocence , style , talent and top of it all an awesome humor which made her instantly enchanting . An era of distinctive look and style choices had ushered in. Instantly she became an alternative feminine icon to Elizabeth Taylor & the legendary Grace Kelly. With her short hair style , thick eyebrows, slim body and gamine looks , she presented a look which all found easier to emulate than those vaunted starlets . Added to the international best dressed list in 1961 , she was always associated with minimalistic style , wearing long clothes with simple silhouettes which emphasised her slim body ,monochromatic colours and occasional statement accessories.
Hubert de Divenchy who was first hired to design her on-screen wardrobe for her second film, when both were unknown quantities in the glittering world of Hollywood , formed what was later an amazing on screen friendship in which Divenchy became as much a house hold name as his muse.
The Burberry trench coats she wore in the 1961 starrer in which she was a New York call girl Holly Golightly , is part of Fashion folklore now. The dress she wears in the opening credits of the same film is considered an icon of the 20th century and perhaps the most famous little black dress of all time.
Her influence as a seminal style icon continues years after her death . Over the years she has been an enigma , an inspiration to aspiring actresses globally on how to look and dress for a movie. Surprising then that in 1989 she admitted in an interview, " my look is attainable. Women can look like me by flipping out their hair ,buying large glasses and little sleeveless dresses ."
Its been 24 years that you are gone but your presence is felt over and over again . For legends and actresses may come and go , a DIVA like you will be nigh impossible to replicate . You were, are and will be the Numero Uno .
Audrey Kathleen Ruston aka Audrey Hepburn - have a great one for starlets like you are hardly born . Too small to wish you a happy birthday wherever you are for the birds are humming their tunes for ever .
Hubert de Divenchy who was first hired to design her on-screen wardrobe for her second film, when both were unknown quantities in the glittering world of Hollywood , formed what was later an amazing on screen friendship in which Divenchy became as much a house hold name as his muse.
The Burberry trench coats she wore in the 1961 starrer in which she was a New York call girl Holly Golightly , is part of Fashion folklore now. The dress she wears in the opening credits of the same film is considered an icon of the 20th century and perhaps the most famous little black dress of all time.
Her influence as a seminal style icon continues years after her death . Over the years she has been an enigma , an inspiration to aspiring actresses globally on how to look and dress for a movie. Surprising then that in 1989 she admitted in an interview, " my look is attainable. Women can look like me by flipping out their hair ,buying large glasses and little sleeveless dresses ."
Its been 24 years that you are gone but your presence is felt over and over again . For legends and actresses may come and go , a DIVA like you will be nigh impossible to replicate . You were, are and will be the Numero Uno .
Audrey Kathleen Ruston aka Audrey Hepburn - have a great one for starlets like you are hardly born . Too small to wish you a happy birthday wherever you are for the birds are humming their tunes for ever .
No comments:
Post a Comment