Style Maven: Audrey Hepburn (Part 3 - On Health...)

As I said in my Editor’s Letter this month, if anyone wants to understand how to be truly happy in life, one should study the life and values of Ms. Audrey Hepburn—so I will make it easy for you to do so with my 10 part Style Maven series this month. In my fashion, after reading Melissa Hellstern’s book, 'How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life', one sees Audrey Hepburn as a prime example of how to overcome the self-defeating attitudes we have of ourselves, and rise to the occasion where ever you are needed. For me personally, considering Hepburn was an introverted soul, she reminds me that being an introvert, it is possible to step out of one’s comfort zone to achieve the success we desire. "We may be introverts, but that is not all that we are," I tell myself! I think she shows that there is strength in all of us (introverted or extroverted) to accomplish great successes and create a happy life, which is exactly why I preach of understanding what our unique strengths are so we can be as useful in this life as possible. She shows no matter how delicate, beautiful, or kind you are, we all have our tribulations in life, no matter how glorious we appear in the public eye. She reminds us that at the end of the day we all have to work for the satisfaction we want in life, and one cannot fret over what one cannot control. Life gets on when you do, so make it happen! I would only hope that the following posts help you to figure out how to emulate some of that effervescence Audrey possessed by adjusting how you see life through her eyes.

On Health: How to be beautiful...

Beware the City Life “In the city, one tries to live as though one were on a farm—that is, naturally: You try to exercise, but you can’t always; you eat the things that are good for you, but you also eat things that are not good for you.”

Relax “You have to be as relaxed as possible about food and fitness and the rest of it, or you will be a slave to your beauty habits…You may have great skin, but you’ll become a robot.”

Eat Well “When you have had the strength to survive starvation, you never again send back a steak simply because it’s under done.” 

Run With Dogs “I walk with my dogs which keeps me fit. I talk to my dogs, which keeps me sane. I can’t think of anything that makes one happier that to cuddle and play and start the day with a warm puppy.”

Grow Something “I’m grateful for everything that’s green. When I didn’t have a dime, I held to the dream of one day having my own orchard with fruit trees and a place to grow vegetables.”

Get Plenty of Vitamin C “We talked about food endlessly—what meal we would eat when the war was over. I think mine was chocolate cake.”

Be a Realist “As the year’s go on, you see changes in yourself, but you’ve got to face that—everyone goes through it…Either you have to face up to it and tell yourself you’re not going to be eighteen all your life, or be prepared for a terrible shock when you see the wrinkles and white hair.”

à la mode: Shape Shift

I came across the below video on YouTube, and like a moth to a flame, I could not keep from watching it over and over again. I was overcome with beauty from this video of this shoot shot in Vogue Italia for the October 2014 issue. As one may very well be aware, there is a certain fascination with knits this winter in the fashion community. This shoot is in response to that notion, in my fashion. The spread elevates knits to an elegant, yet edgy appeal, and after watching the video I feel new motivation to think of inventive ways of wearing the knits in my closet. How about you?

Style Maven: Audrey Hepburn (Part 2 - On Success...)

As I said in my Editor’s Letter this month, if anyone wants to understand how to be truly happy in life, one should study the life and values of Ms. Audrey Hepburn—so I will make it easy for you to do so with my 10 part Style Maven series this month. In my fashion, after reading Melissa Hellstern’s book, 'How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life', one sees Audrey Hepburn as a prime example of how to overcome the self-defeating attitudes we have of ourselves, and rise to the occasion where ever you are needed. For me personally, considering Hepburn was an introverted soul, she reminds me that being an introvert, it is possible to step out of one’s comfort zone to achieve the success we desire. "We may be introverts, but that is not all that we are," I tell myself! I think she shows that there is strength in all of us (introverted or extroverted) to accomplish great successes and create a happy life, which is exactly why I preach of understanding what our unique strengths are so we can be as useful in this life as possible. She shows no matter how delicate, beautiful, or kind you are, we all have our tribulations in life, no matter how glorious we appear in the public eye. She reminds us that at the end of the day we all have to work for the satisfaction we want in life, and one cannot fret over what one cannot control. Life gets on when you do, so make it happen! I would only hope that the following posts help you to figure out how to emulate some of that effervescence Audrey possessed by adjusting how you see life through her eyes.

On Success: How to make your mark...

Be a Good Student “The work ethic—don’t complain, don’t give in if you’re tired, don’t go out the night before you have to dance. Sonia taught me that if you really worked hard, you’d succeed, and that everything has to come from the inside.” – on her ballet teacher Sonia Gaskell

When Opportunity Knocks, Answer “This is how I got into movies: not because I thought it was so wonderful to be in one and, gosh, here’s my dream coming true, but because I need money to live. And so, when another opportunity was offered me, I took it. Gratefully.” 

Wing it if You Have To “All my life I've been in situations where I've had no technique, but if you feel enough, you can get away with murder.”

Work Hard “If you want to get psychological, you can say my definiteness stems from underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority. I couldn't conquer these feelings by acting indecisive. I found the only way to get the better of them was by putting my foot down, by adopting a forceful and concentrated drive.”

Nerves are Normal “There is a Dutch saying, ‘Don’t fret; it will happen differently anyway.’ I believe that.”

Use Whatever Tools Necessary “What has always helped me a great deal, for instance, are the clothes, because as I didn't have this technique of being able to deal with a part in, you know, however way it was, it was often an enormous help to know that you looked the part. Then the rest wasn't so tough anymore.”

Be Prepared to Sacrifice “My greatest ambition is to have a career without becoming a career women."

Style Maven: Audrey Hepburn (Part 1 - On Happiness...)

As I said in my Editor’s Letter this month, if anyone wants to understand how to be truly happy in life, one should study the life and values of Ms. Audrey Hepburn—so I will make it easy for you to do so with my 10 part Style Maven series this month. In my fashion, after reading Melissa Hellstern’s book, 'How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life', one sees Audrey Hepburn as a prime example of how to overcome the self-defeating attitudes we have of ourselves, and rise to the occasion where ever you are needed. For me personally, considering Hepburn was an introverted soul, she reminds me that being an introvert, it is possible to step out of one’s comfort zone to achieve the success we desire. "We may be introverts, but that is not all that we are," I tell myself! I think she shows that there is strength in all of us (introverted or extroverted) to accomplish great successes and create a happy life, which is exactly why I preach of understanding what our unique strengths are so we can be as useful in this life as possible. She shows no matter how delicate, beautiful, or kind you are, we all have our tribulations in life, no matter how glorious we appear in the public eye. She reminds us that at the end of the day we all have to work for the satisfaction we want in life, and one cannot fret over what one cannot control. Life gets on when you do, so make it happen! I would only hope that the following posts help you to figure out how to emulate some of that effervescence Audrey possessed by adjusting how you see life through her eyes.

On Happiness: How to find your bliss...

Attitude is everything “Not to live for the Day, that would be materialistic—but to treasure the day. I realize that most of us live on the skin—on the surface—without appreciating just how wonderful it is simply to be alive at all.”

Listen to your mother “It’s that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so don’t fuss, dear; get on with it.”

Keep it all in Perspective “Being without food, fearful for one’s life, the bombings—all made me appreciative of safety, of liberty. In that sense, the bad experiences have become a positive in my life.”

Expect Less “I’ve had so much more than I ever dreamed possible out of life—[no] great accomplishments or hopes that didn’t work out…I’ve accomplished far more than I ever hoped to, and most of the time it happened without my seeking it.”

Be Perfectly Human “People seem to have this fixed image of me. In a way I think it’s very sweet, but its also a little sad. After all, I’m a human being. When I get angry, I sometimes swear.”

Live Without Regret “What would be awful would be to die and look back miserably—seeing only the bad things, the opportunities missed, or what could have been.”

Bit-O-Inspiro 54

Style Watch: Inside Chanel (Part 3)

When we wake up, we all have our morning routine that helps us to fully wake up and be ready for the day ahead. Some of us meditate, or take a relaxing shower. Some of us listen to music that jump start our internal verve. As of late, what I have found to be my roosters wake up call is the short videos of Gabrielle Chanel's life and career that the House of Chanel has posted on it's YouTube channel over the last year and a half. Since the first video posted on October 5, 2012, there are now ten chapters to the series entitled, "Inside Chanel". In my fashion, for anyone interested in fashion history, and understanding the root of style, listening to these videos as I wake up instills a certain fire inside of myself to live life radiantly and continue my sartorial journey in life, as Coco Chanel did once upon a time.

In my fashion, if one can capture any semblance of Chanel within one's personal style, one will always be in fashion. In my research of The Secrets of Stylists, one cannot deny the legacy of style that Chanel has brought to the world. If you can recall one of IMF.blog's most popular Style Maven posts on Coco Chanel, as the ultimate stylist, she instilled a most true meaning of style that is felt among anyone who seeks to obtain it. I adore the videos because in demystifying the mystery behind Chanel, one gains a grander sense of how to cultivate ones style, for even if you do not own a Chanel blazer, cardigan, or bag, the simple principals of style and elegance that Gabrielle Chanel propose are universal in their application.

As I continually chant on IMFblog, one must understand the past to build on one's future, and these videos are a perfect way of looking into the past to understand the history of Chanel. If you are going to own a Chanel blazer (as I intend to in the future), there is much more semblance in wearing the jacket when one understands and appreciates the prestige and history in wearing such a garment. When wearing a Chanel piece, the values of style so exclaimed by Gabrielle herself are reflective of the the wearer. She succeeded at impressing her style upon the world. I paid close attention to where she got her influences from and what changes in life shaped her sentiment toward life and style. Understanding the origins of her ideas is what translates through a Chanel piece, and makes the piece more than a frock, and the same is true of one's own style. Figuring out the things in your own life that bring the most meaning to what you have learned about in life is what makes your style recognizable and strong.

In my fashion, the word "Chanel" is the embodiment of what a women wants to feel like as an individual: empowered, beautiful and timeless, in a simple, easy way. Gabrielle translated those qualities into clothes that is the fashion essential of a women in society. Hopefully that is what you draw to see from some of my favorite short videos I listen to in replay in the mornings. I adore the construction of the videos and the visuals for they too are very indicative of Chanel style. In terms of The Secrets of Stylists, this is a good beginning towards understanding how to approach your style and sartorial choices. If only I understood French so I could understand what Karl Lagerfeld is saying in his interviews in chapter 8 and 9, but perhaps that will be another undertaking I will intend to accomplish in the future.

Style Maven: Audrey Hepburn

The elegant, rare career of Audrey Hepburn

I find taking the time to figure out who you are in life is essential to living successfully. The late Maya Angelou said, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” That quote comes from the book which is the source of this month’s Style Maven series, “How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life” by Melissa Hellstern. If anyone has viewed my Instagram (@inmyfashionblog) within the past year and half, I have posted my DVD purchases of some of Ms. Hepburn’s most popular works, and they have become some of my most prized possessions. In my fashion, watching one of her films and seeing her perform I feel such a sense of innocent ingenuity in the characters she plays that one can’t help feel the credibility of the story being told. I get totally enveloped in the love, happiness, sadness, and anger in each scene. On top of being able to make one empathize with her character, in my fashion, it is impossible to deny how simply adorable she is to watch moving around on screen. Being a muse to  Hubert de Givenchy was a such a star-crossed partnership for Audrey and the courtier because it was such a mutable relationship for their careers as he would design many of the looks for her films that would translate into the classic Audrey Hepburn style we are familiar with today. With all the notoriety Hepburn acquired throughout her life, in my studies, it would appear as though she herself would not consider her fame what makes her most proud about her life. The fact that she was able to live was just enough, and I think its that attitude that we are so charmed by in this woman. 

As I said in my Editor’s Letter this month, if anyone wants to understand how to be truly happy in life, one should study the life and values of Ms. Hepburn—so I will make it easy for you to do so with my 10 part Style Maven series this month. In my fashion, after reading Hellstern’s book, Audrey Hepburn is a prime example of how to overcome the self-defeating attitudes we have of ourselves, and rise to the occasion where ever you are needed. For me personally, considering Hepburn was an introverted soul, she reminds me that being an introvert, it is possible to step out of one’s comfort zone to achieve the success we desire. We may be introverts, but that is not all that we are. I think she shows that there is strength in all of us (introverted or extroverted) to accomplish great successes and create a happy life, which is exactly why I preach of understanding what our unique strengths are so we can be as useful in this life as possible. She shows no matter how delicate, beautiful, or kind you are, we all have our tribulations in life, no matter how glorious we appear in the public eye, and at the end of the day we all have to work for the things we want in life, and one cannot fret over what one cannot control. Life gets on when you do, so make it happen! I would only hope that the following posts help you to figure out how to emulate some of that effervescence Audrey possessed by adjusting how you see life through her eyes.

EDITOR'S LETTER: November 2014

Who was I for Halloween?

So, yesterday was Halloween, and the above outfit was what I wore as homage to a special someone who I have increasingly become infatuated with in the past year and a half. Who do you think that person is based on what I am wearing? I was thoroughly disappointed when everyone I asked kept giving me the same answer, Michael Jackson—which is the wrong answer. The person on my mind was the late Audrey Hepburn (In my fashion, she is the original reference for the white sock trend). My “costume” choice this year goes along with the notion of women-repelling as I mentioned in my last Editor’s Letter. I chose the look because 1) I still had to go to work and I hate looking too unprofessional at work (even on Halloween); 2) I ADORE Audrey Hepburn, what she accomplished in her life, and what she stood for as a person; and 3) because the look is so classic, androgynous, and attainable, (aside: in my fashion, the white socks actually add a mildly high fashion aspect considering the look is actually quite classic and now a day white socks with black pants is a no, so it caters to the rebel in myself, which is fun. I'm considering wearing white socks as my new statement now). As I went throughout the day, I was surprised to find how many people were unfamiliar with Audrey Hepburn. In my mind, I figured when I told someone I was Audrey Hepburn from the movie “Funny Face”, people would be delightfully reminded of this classic story of an unassuming book store clerk (Audrey Hepburn as Jo Stockton) being discovered by a photographer (Fred Astaire as Dick Avery) to work as a model, and they fall in love with each other in Paris. This quintessential fashion fairy tale is heavily referenced in the Fashion World, especially when it comes to spreads dealing with pink clothes, hence the widely used headline for those spreads being, “Think Pink!” So when I went to work advertising who my costume inspiration was and people would ask me, “Who is Audrey Hepburn?” I was floored!

“Audrey and I agreed she would wear black tight fitting pants, a black sweater and black shoes. I wanted her to wear white socks with it, and she was stunned. ‘Absolutely not!’ she said. ‘It will spoil the whole black silhouette and cut the line at my feet!’ I said, ‘If you don’t wear the white socks you will fade into the background…’ She burst into tears and ran into her dressing room. After a little while she regained her composure, put on the white socks, returned to the set and went ahead without a whimper…Later, when she saw the sequence, she sent me a note saying, ‘You were right about the socks. Love, Audrey.’”—Stanley Donen, Director of ‘Funny Face’

Dressing as Audrey Hepburn yesterday revealed to me that I have a little bit of enlightening to do on my part, and as one can imagine, Audrey Hepburn, will be my focus for this month as my new Style Maven. I just finished the book by Melissa Hellstern entitled “How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life”, and in my fashion, if one wants to understand how to be truly happy in life, one should study the life and values of Ms. Hepburn. In my 10 part series I will highlight the lessons learned by Audrey on all aspects of life from Success and Happiness, to Fame and Humanity, all through her own words. There is a reason why Ms. Hepburn is a style icon, and not just because she looked wonderful in a Givenchy dress. I think a lot of it had to do with the values she lived by, and what is so fascinating to me is that her personal values are so practical that to me from reading her quotes, one gets the feeling that if she can do it, I can do it too, especially when one takes into account the events of her life, and lack thereof a normal childhood growing up in Europe during WWII. Her values are actually classic prescriptions for how to deal with life, and her life is an example of what happens when you follow through. These classic prescriptions for life can be forgotten in our fast paced modern technological society. Hopefully as we study the words of the wise Ms. Hepburn, we will enhance our style and quality of life by taking some her advice. 

In regards to The Secrets of Stylists, Audrey Hepburn is certainly one to gain inspiration from as she was quintessentially one that all men wanted to be with, and concurrently women wanted to be. In my fashion, that type of appeal is one we all hope to achieve, but that comes from more than just looks. Assessing what are the qualities that made her so enigmatic, we can reflect on ourselves and see what happens when we apply her principals to our lives as to have the same effect on people as Audrey had. On top of that, I have been reviewing the Spring 2015 collections all month and I intend on presenting my runway report in the coming weeks. The way I intend to present my review should also help in regards to defining your own classic style, much like Audrey was able to do in her life.

spéciale de la mode: Shopping Secrets of a Vintage Clothing Vet: Lynn Yaeger Shares Her 5 Golden Rules

Anyone who knows anything about me, knows I absolutely ADORE a great thrift store! If you can find a store where you seem to find at least one great item each time you go to it you have found a good thrift store for yourself. Considering one can find clothes for $1 to $10, how can one not be tempted to spend $2 on a barley worn blouse, especially if it's designer. In my fashion, its all about how the item is worn that allows one to step out the box of the trends of the moment. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that most people cannot imagine sifting through the humongous, and seemingly disheveled inventory of some stores to find pieces that can pass for daily wear that don't make one look they stepped off a Warner Bros. movie set from 1950. That dreaded "selection overload" is what we like to scapegoat the culprit to be, but I was pleased when I saw a post on Vogue.com on Vintage Shopping advise from the accomplished, now Contributing Editor to Vogue Magazine, Lynn Yaeger. Her eccentric style is strongly recognized within the fashion community, and her work in fashion writing spans past 30 years. In the post entitled, Shopping Secrets of a Vintage Clothing Vet: Lynn Yaeger Shares Her 5 Golden Rules, and in my fashion, her advise goes along perfectly with my theme, The Secret of Stylists, in that she helps to demystify how to go vintage shopping or thrifting without being overwhelmed. 

Photographed by Tim Beddow, Vogue, May 2013

Julius Caesar, that ancient vintage shopper (you thought he paid full price for those togas?) once said, “Experience is the teacher of all things.” By which we are pretty sure he meant that before you begin shopping at the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show tomorrow, you will probably benefit from a few gentle tips, offered by a veteran who has been attending these events (and hauling home treasures, along with some whopping errors) at least since the Clinton administration.

1. Please don’t buy it if it doesn’t fit! If it’s too big, you might be able to make it smaller (but that could ruin its line, and therefore its charm), and if it’s too small—well, it’s old, and may be rip-prone anyway. So please, just don’t.

2. If you are fairly new to vintage shopping, you may be more comfortable finding something that echoes current runway trends (the sixties resurgent at Saint Laurent; the seventies in all its loopy fringy glory practically everywhere else). If you’re skittish, start small, with a bag, a scarf, a hat.

3. Be wary of the advice of your fellow shoppers! Sure, it’s fun to hang in the communal fitting room and swap comments. Everyone, maybe for their own sick reasons, will tell you you look great, even when you sort of don’t. Remember that in these circumstances, you have only one real friend—the mirror.

4. Don’t forget to bargain! And always say, “What is your best price?” if you are not sure you want it! If you say, “Will you take x amount?” and the dealer says yes, you are honor-bound by the laws of the flea world to buy the thing.

5. Go super early for the best selection—plus you will see what the scouts from design houses are buying, which is always fun—or super late, for the best prices. The nearer to closing time it is, the less likely the seller wants to lug that 50-pound, 1920s wardrobe trunk back to the van.

*6. #IMGBlog SUGGESTION: What if you find an absolutely amazing piece at a Thrift, but you tend to be the type that cringes at the thought of wearing someone else's clothes which have already been lived in, I personally suggest the following:

Depending on the delicacy of the fabric the first thing you will want to do is wash it immediately in the washer, or take it straight to the dry cleaners on the way home from the thrift to pick up as soon as possible. Then even after you have washed it and you still feel the unsettling feeling of the fact that this-was-someone's-piece-of-clothing-and-you-don't-know-who-that-person-was put it on a hanger in your closet or in your drawer and leave it there unworn for a considerable amount of time, or at least until the feeling starts to set in that you have owned the piece for a good amount of time to consider it officially yours, and you can forget the anonymous other person existed.