What
is it - that alluring quality that some women exude - it transcends
time and fashion trends - it's a level of confidence, an ease at being
in their bodies, the art of always looking stylish and impeccably beautiful,
uniquely put together?
It's becoming an increasingly rare quality. At a time in fashion where
it is pretty much 'anything goes' it seems a rather paradoxical situation.
Ethnic, gypsy dresses vie for high street place beside pedal pushers,
androgynous denims, demure romantic slip dresses and classic twin sets.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the days of agonizing over what
to wear were over. Increasingly, as wardrobes seem to hold a bit of
everything, what seems to be missing is the objective discernment to
dress in a way which suits the individual. To think that any outfit
which looks good on a model or friend will flatter any other individual
it fits is just preparing the way for another costly, embarrassing mistake.
Roll back the camera fifty years and our Hollywood Goddesses would never
have got it so badly wrong. Could you imagine Marilyn Munroe braving
the paparazzi bare-faced and unkempt, in a grungy sweater, leggings
and trainers, or Audrey Hepburn's delicate gamine frame pumped up to
a DD bust, hair tousled and bleached a la baywatch, barbie-doll babe,
or maybe even the sophisticated Grace Kelly arriving at a film premier
in a dress held together with safety pins and slashed down to the navel
and up to g-string for effect …er, I think not.
So
where did we go wrong? The 1960's pop culture widened our possibilities
and ever since then fashion designers have created a spectacular and
vast array of looks, each season under pressure to come up with something
new, something even more exciting and marketable to the public. Great
for creativity, for art, for potential choice for the consumer - great
too for big business. But, for the average woman in the street, on the
whole unsure of how to make the best of herself, lacking in confidence
and affirmation it has been quite a journey.
The Hollywood Goddesses were lucky because they had their personal designers
and costume makers who knew only too well the impact that clothes have
on the perception of character and beauty. The designers, commissioned
ultimately to make a character come alive and sell a film, had both
the professional trained eye and craftsmanship to transform a mere mortal
actress to silver screen Goddess. A match made in Heaven!
Audrey Hepburn is commonly known to have credited Givenchy with 'creating'
her image and saying that his designs gave her the security to face
either film cameras or public with confidence. It was the designer's
ability to see the essence of the woman and at the same time flatter
her figure and role and colouring which made these actresses such memorable
icons.
The truth is that Audrey Hepburn's formula for dressing today would
include the same elegant, minimal chic, the slightly androgynous suits,
tailored shift dresses, neat tailored jackets or 3/4 length swing coats
with clean lines, bold colours. A floaty floral romantic or ethnic gypsy
look would be as much a disaster now as it would have been decades ago
- no matter what was popular on the catwalks and in the glossy magazines.
Marilyn Munroe would likewise still be true to her voluptuous, sensual
and glitzy image. Her outfits would always have cynched waists and definition
to her curvy hour-glass figure, whether she was wearing a suit or dress,
wherever she was going. Just as she would always be immaculately groomed,
made-up and accessorised - the diva would always shine through, the
latest fashion look would just provide new twists to play with, new
accessories to add - but never would they dictate the whole look.
© Laura Berridge 2001