Daily Quote #3

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.

-Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn
http://www.doctormacro.com/movie%20star%20pages/Hepburn,%20Audrey-Annex.htm-

What I love about Audrey Hepburn is her sense of fun. She had a free spirit in an era dictated by some of the most drop dead gorgeous blond bombshells. Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and the list goes on, but with all of these super glam, sexy movie stars Audrey stuck out because of her unusual personality. 


Audrey's clothes reflected her fun personality. Whimsy is a good word to describe Audrey's overall aesthetic, which always had the right amount of playfulness. Of course Audrey could carry practically any dress, because of her association with ballet she had the perfect posture. For this reason she wore dress' that gave her a princess like quality. She was a girl of the last era of true old fashioned glamour and elegance and she took advantage of it to the fullest extent. Givenchy, Dior, and Balenciaga were the foundation of the late actress' wardrobe. The New Look let Audrey be flirtatious yet never too revealing, unlike so many of her contemporaries. Her hair also helped the overall look. I've never liked the pixie cut and only once have I actually met someone in the flesh who was able work it properly, but Audrey Hepburn pulls it off. I've decided that in order to get away with it one can't be too serious, it just doesn't work. It's called a pixie cut for a reason. Pixie's are meant to be free spirits, slightly mischievous, and forever laughing. 

Pixie Cut
http://www.bellasugar.com/Pictures-Short-Hair-3031422?slide=1

Audrey at the 'bar',  laughing and smiling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fred_baby/3891225390/

I received a book from my mum for Christmas called 'Audrey 100', which is a compilation of 100 photos chosen after her death by her two sons. The fact that her sons chose the pictures and not some random detached biographer gives the book the necessary imagery to capture the true Audrey. The majority of the photos chosen show a smiling face with that signature 'funny nose'. The clothes come second in the photos, and the woman first. A lot of them are photos captured behind the scene before the director yells 'action'. However she is always well dressed despite not being completely encompassed by her looks. 


To finally get onto the quote. Audrey was a philanthropist and cared greatly for all those around her. Later in life, once she had said goodbye to the golden screen, she travelled to impoverished countries in Africa to give aid in any way she could, from a kind word, to a laugh and a smile. Her beauty and her elegance only started with her clothes. She dressed to reflect herself and no one else. 


The older she got the more beautiful she became. The last pictures in the book I have show her in Africa in her later years, and she never looked more radiant. 

Audrey later in life doing humanitarian work

It isn't a story of a fashion icon so much, although she was that, but a caring, loving woman who, despite a tough start, lived a life of beauty and happiness through more than just her clothes.


I apologize for this whole post being rather 'sappy and cheesy' but the quote can be considered some of the same. It doesn't make it a bad quote, on the contrary, I think it is a simple truth and it is told the most beautifully in this message.