Shirley Temple Salute

We have lost one of the greats.

As I have shared with you before, I am a huge fan of Classic Hollywood film. Shirley Temple is a huge reason why I was hooked at such a young age. I remember watching her movies at my Grammy's house as a little girl. She blew me away. She was adorable and innocent but had a cheeky way of talking to adults that made her seem so beyond her years. And girlfriend was crazy talented.

 

The first time I saw her dance in "The Little Colonel" alongside Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, I was consumed with excitement and happiness. I danced all around the house and tried to imitate them. It wasn't until many years later I realized that Shirley and Bill had made history in being one of the first, if not the first, interracial dance team in a Hollywood film. Shirley became THE biggest box office draw in Hollywood by the age of 7.

My adoration for her was multiplied when I saw her brilliantly portray my biggest literary hero at the time, Sara Crewe, in "The Little Princess." She never made cute seem corny. Although of course she was adorable, she could reach down in your guts and make you cry like you meant it. And even at a young age I appreciated that.

I remember watching "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" when I was a little older and my jaw hitting the ground when I realized that was Ms. Temple on the screen, wooing Cary Grant and stealing the spotlight from Myrna Loy! She was so beautiful and grown up and still so fresh and young. Her comedic chops hadn't failed her and she kept up easily with Cary and Myrna, which is a true accomplishment.

My first reaction when I heard this news was sadness and a sense of loss. But I can look at what Shirley gave to me, a love of dance, humor, youthful sweetness and confidence and just feel gratitude and happiness.

Shirley has said that the best thing she ever did was being a mother and a grandmother and that nothing matters more than real love. She was married to the same man for 54 years until his death. She was political activist and U.S. Ambassador. She was a mother of three and a breast cancer survivor. She died at the age of 85 in bed at home, surrounded by loved and of natural causes. How can you mourn such fulfilled and brilliant life? I can only celebrate it and be happy to have had a glimpse of it.

Still in awe of you,
tbg

Film Fashion Friday: Audrey Hepburn and Charade.

 

I have always secretly not so secretly wanted to be a film critic/historian.  Classic film has always been my thing, thanks to my mom having me watch Gone with the Wind at age five and my Grammy watching Singing in the Rain with me at about age three.  I am a TCM junky and I have a HUGE crush on Robert Osborne. I want to hug him. And do his job for him when he needs a day off.

My earliest memory of  movie watching is when I was about two years old, sitting on the always awesome floor pallet with my cousins and brother watching The Wizard of Oz.  It scared and delighted me all at once and from that point on, I was hooked.

There are a million reasons why I love classic films and one of those things is the fashion.  Duh, right?  So every now and then I would like to share my love of film and film fashion with you fine folks.

Today I will start with a pretty obvious one.  The reason why I wear my collars popped and one of the most beloved actresses and fashion icons of all time....Ms. Audrey Hepburn. 

 

No, I am not going to write about Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  There is nothing that I could ever saw about the black dress in the opening seem that hasn’t already been said one million times over.  I would never dare to remark on one of the most iconic cinema moments in all of film history.

 

What?  I said I wouldn't talk about it...I didn't say I wouldn't show you a picture of it....

Instead I will talk about my favorite film of Audrey’s.  Charade.  While it is not the most amazing example of film making or even close to best acting that we see from Ms. Hepburn, it is really good and really funny.  No there are no monkeys or punches to a penis.  It is the kind of funny where you actually have to pay attention to the dialogue.  There are little witty joke nuggets tucked into the words that, if you can catch them, are brilliant.  It is what my husband calls “smart funny”.  It can easily be missed if you are not in the mood, etc.

Charade is a highly styleized romantic comedy/mystery thriller that has Audrey running around Paris in the most fabulous early 60’s fashion throwing herself at Cary Grant.  What is there not to love, am I right?

According to Wikipedia “Cary Grant (who turned 59 during filming) was sensitive about the 26 year age difference between Audrey Hepburn (33 at the time of filming) and himself, and this made him uncomfortable with the romantic interplay between them. To satisfy his concerns, the filmmakers agreed to add several lines of dialogue in which Grant's character comments on his age and Regina — Hepburn's character — is portrayed as the pursuer.”

I am so glad this happened because this gives the film so much of its uniqueness and makes for some of the best moments in the movie. 

(Here Audrey proves that mustard is indeed a fashion statement...not just a condiment.)

Audrey is probably the most influential fashion icon as far as movie stars go.  We can thank her for making the gamine body type sexy coming in on the heels of ladies like Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner.  She brought sex to cigarette pants, ballet flats and the pixie cut.  She essentially made the unsexy, sexy.  Oxford shirts, peter pan collars, capris, bug like sunglass lenses, loafers….the list goes on.  She was usually covered from head to toe in layers and often a coat.  She really showcased the importance of fit and silhouette.  Also her face was just so damn beautiful that she could wear a snuggy and crocs and look smokin. 

 

And my god those eyebrows…

 

She was the quintessential chic…classic….perfection. Here are some of the amazing fashion moments in the film Charade.

 

 

 

I tried to create my own modern spin on Audrey’s effortless style showcased in this film…

 

Tory Burch Boots, AA tights, BR jacket, Michael Kors bag, Vintage hat

A swing and a miss!

What is your favorite Audrey moment or movie?

Now all I need is Cary,

tbg