Eternal Style: Grace Kelly
Written By: Elaina Price
Old Hollywood. There is something so glamorous and inspiring about the mere mention of it. The lights, the music, the fashion, everything about it seems surreal and unattainable. Many women and men have been epitomized and famed by the old Hollywood days, none more so than Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly was, and forever will be, a true old Hollywood icon, not just because of her beauty, and style, but because of her poise, femininity, and sex- appeal. The iconic image of a tall, slim, sun-kissed woman with glossy blonde hair, wearing wide-rimmed sunglass, and a silk scarf knotted around her neck, will be one of Grace Kelly’s legacies. Women and men all over the world were enamored by her. Women wanted to be her, and men wanted to be with her. She was a true commodity, and there have been no other women in history quite like her. That is why when one thinks of fashion icons of the late 1950’s and early 1960’sGrace Kelly will undoubtedly pop into their head. Her presence in history and in fashion, will never be erased, and that is why everyone should know about this truly timeless woman.
Grace Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1929. Even at a young age, Kelly knew that she wanted to be an actress. She knew that staying in Pennsylvania would not lend itself to her dreams and aspirations, so she made her way to New York City, where she attended The American Academy of Dramatic Art. It was in New York City that she began stage acting and modeling, two experiences she knew would lead her closer to becoming a great Hollywood actress. It was through modeling that she was exposed to the main- stream population. She appeared on the covers of several prominent magazines of the time, including Cosmopolitan and Redbook, and was featured in advertisements for Old Gold Cigarettes. While New York City life was exciting, and completely new, Grace Kelly wanted something more. She attempted to be an actress on Broadway, but didn’t have the vocal talent to obtain her big break. It was after her lack luster success as a theater actress that Kelly thought about being a film actress. This new aspiration lead her to Hollywood, and to the success that she had dreamed of all her life.
Grace Kelly’s big break came with the debut of the film 14 Hours, which was directed by Gary Cooper. A year later, Cooper cast Kelly in High Noon as his young wife. Kelly’s career didn’t stop there, it only gained more traction. Her next project was Mogambo, where she stared alongside Clarke Gable and Ava Gardner.
The film was set in Kenya, and during the long filming process Kelly and Gable had a love affair. It was her role in this movie in particular that got Kelly the attention she sought. She was nominated for an academy award and won the golden globe for best supporting actress. Most notably, Kelly won the academy award for best actress in Country Girl, which debuted in 1954. It was at this point in time that not just Hollywood, but the world, started taking notice of the blonde bombshell. After her golden globe win, many directors wanted to work with her, but she turned them down in favor of working with Albert Hitchcock. The chemistry between the Hollywood beauty and the director was instantaneous, and they worked on Rear Window (1954), Dial M for Murder (1954), and To Catch a Thief (1955). These three films were well received and gained iconic status early on. Kelly had the privilege of working with some of the most successful and noteworthy actors and actresses in Hollywood., Carey Grant being one of them. The two had an undeniable chemistry onscreen in To Catch a Thief, and after the debut of the film, both were seen as true cultural and style icons. Grace Kelly went on to act in two more films, one being The Swan in 1956 and High Society in the same year.
It was not long after that her film career ended, that her new life began. Kelly married Prince Rainier and became the princess of Monaco on April 19, 1956. The wedding gown that Kelly wore on her wedding day, was the most expensive gown ever crafted by MGM designer Helen Rose. The gown was made of twenty five yards of silk taffeta and one hundred yards of silk net. The
lace used in the dress was 125 years old and was purchased from a museum. The veil was not an after thought, and was embellished with thousands of pearls. Over the span of their lifetime together, the Prince and the new Princess of Monaco were quite devoted to each other, and the two had three children three children, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stephanie. Grace Kelly’s life was sadly cut short, when she died in a fatal car crash on September 14, 1982. It was said that she and her daughter Princess Stephanie were driving along a road on Cap-d'Ail in the Côte d'Azur region of France, when Grace suffered a stroke and lost control of the car. The car then fell down a 45-foot embankment. This crash resulted in her death, and the loss of a true Hollywood icon.
Grace Kelly was and is still missed by Hollywood and the world. Her beauty, charm, style, and talent gave her a truly memorable status. Many of Hollywood’s lead- ing ladies of today try an emulate her on screen and off, but unfortunately, can’t do her justice. There is and always will be only one Grace Kelly, and that is what makes her so special. “I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds, and who was a kind and loving person. I would like to leave the memory of a human being with a correct attitude and who did her best to help others.” -Grace Kelly
Do the Grace: Grace Kelly Fashion and Beauty Trends
Fashion and beauty were both integral parts of Grace Kelly’s life and legacy. She was known for her sexy, feminine, and sophisticated clothing, and her perfect glossy blonde hair and soft make up. Grace Kelly is not known as a fashion icon. She is instead viewed as a true style icon. Her taste and clothing were not revolutionary or overly trend conscious, but she had a signature look that women wanted to get their hands on. It was because Grace never wavered from her style philosophy that she got so much recognition and attention from others. The Grace Kelly Look: Grace Kelly had the ability to look fashionable, with an innate effortlessness. Her look was never over- done. On the contrary, it was quite demure and ageless. She kept her frocks simple, yet elegant, and it inspired women all over the world. A quintessential Grace Kelly look would consist of a twinset-and-pearls, with a nipped-waist-flared-skirt. Grace opted for conservatives garments, that were feminine and sophisticated. At a time in history where women were becoming more experimental with fashion, Grace Kelly stayed true to her lady-like, tailored style aesthetic. What made Grace Kelly such a style icon, was her lack of outright trendiness. She was never a fashion leader, but was instead, a self proclaimed follower, that wore what suited her and what she liked even if it wasn’t viewed as overly “fashionable” at the time. It was this style mentality that won her a sport the International Best Dressed Hall of fame in 1961. Lace: Grace Kelly loved to wear lace, and she wore it in unique, fashion-forward ways. She wore simple A-line dresses, shirt-dresses, and skirt and jacket combinations all in intricate lace. Lace appealed to Kelly because of its old-world, feminine nature, and its elegance and beauty. Kelly loved to wear beautiful fabrics, and she loved lace for just that reason. Accessories: Grace Kelly was widely known as an “accessories girl.” She always accented an outfit with a little extra something to take it to the next level. One of her go-to bag designers was Hermes. These handbags were stylish, and sophisticated which paired perfectly with Grace’s already established signature style. Kelly carried her Hermes bag with her everywhere and she even used it to hide her pregnant stomach from the paparazzi. Her namesake bag is still one of the most popular and
profitable Hermes handbags of all time, and it is all due to this true style icon. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Grace Kelly was known to recycle her favorite out- fits. If she felt she looked good in something she would likely where it again in the near future. While stars of today would not be caught dead in the same dress they wore to an academy awards, at the time of Grace Kelly’s popularity it was not unusual. When Kelly felt good in something, she felt it was important to create the look again. Make-Up: Grace Kelly was known for her smooth, fair complexion, and softly defined eye make up paired with a bold lip color, usually a shade of red. Graces beautiful skin tone was bright and luminous, so emphasizing her lips with col- or, and her eyes with just a hind of smolder was important. Going along with her style. Grace Kelly was all about keeping things polished and simple and her make- up was no exception. Grace Kelly was not overly experimental with different make-up trends. She mostly wore what suited her, and what she thought looked stylish. Kelly’s simple, yet fashionable make-up philosophy is widely used even in modern times, because it is flattering on every women. It is professional enough for the office, and glamorous enough for an fashionable event, or a night out on the town.
“I don't want to dress up a picture with just my face.” -Grace Kelly