True style is timeless, ageless, chic, appropriate, eye catching, comfortable, pleasurable, never dated or trendy. Style makers and stylish people are those who look forever fabulous or casually elegant in whatever they are wearing, and who tend to carry this individual style into their home environments where they collect extraordinary objects, whether furniture, jewelry, art, books or kitchenware.
You know true style when you see it. When you yourself possess it, others are unconsciously aware of your presence, note your unique whisper of effortless sensuality, artistry, excellence, expression and always undeniably imperfect perfection. Style is almost indescribable, although I am attempting to explain it here! It comes from a place of awesome authenticity and those with true style don’t seem to be “trying too hard”; they are just naturally elegant and modest with a desire to dwell with beauty and ease. When a woman has great style, you can’t miss her. There are those people- we all know some- who always make heads turn when they enter a room. This reaction is not based upon their physical beauty, although they may possess that, or on a particular dress or ensemble they are wearing, but is due to a striking presence that is just there.
When This Blonde thinks of stylish places, she think of the Four Seasons Restaurant in midtown Manhattan, with its polished wood walls, soaring ceilings, fabulous art (although I miss the Picasso curtain), and both sophisticated and childish cotton candy dessert. I also think of the century old Beverly Hills Hotel, both before and after renovation, with its glorious gardens, pink and green coloration and banana leaf wallpaper. Also, the mysterious and sensual Philippe Starke designed lobby of Miami’s Art Deco Delano Hotel, the classic American Ralph Lauren store housed in the Rhinelander Mansion on Madison Avenue and almost all of pre-Twentieth Century Haussmannian Paris. When I think of stylish people, I picture both Bouvier sisters – Yes, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, but even more so Lee Radziwill, whom I have spotted looking totally chic walking alone in the streets of New York. I see images of Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Diana Vreeland, Josephine Baker, Kate Moss,
Cate Blanchett, Amal Clooney, Diane Kruger, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chloe Sevigny, Josie Natori, Diana Ross, Robin Wright as “Claire Underwood”, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Carey Grant, Gianni Agnelli, David Beckham, Pharrell Williams, David Bowie, Joe Zee, Waris Ahluwalia, all the “James Bonds”, Ronaldo and Carolina Herrera and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. I imagine a 1950s convertible from almost any car maker, cream colored furniture, one of a kind Oriental or plush or Berber woven natural fiber rugs spread upon dark wooden floors, timeless wall mounted black and white photographs beautifully framed, Riviera influenced espadrilles, basic black alligator pumps, the perfectly cut black silk knee length dress, a gorgeous oversized simply set but richly colored stone ring, khaki pants worn with a white button-down for both men or women, vintage Louis Vuitton luggage, an Hermes Kelly bag, a simple gold Cartier tank watch, flip flops, a black simply cut one piece or bikini swimsuit, vintage marble top bedside or end tables, a ponytail casually worn for day or more dramatically clipped for evening minus the schoolgirl or country girl look, a pleated knee length to mid-calf skirt in black or cream, white Keds, ballet flats, classic silk or suede low heeled mules, a beautiful mirror set in a unique frame, a plethora of silver framed photographs of the people you love filling a big table, piano top or entry console, a library room chockablock with amazing (and actually read) books, a comfortable Chesterfield or classic midcentury modern sofa appointed with a sumptuous cashmere or silk throw, a giant coffee table useful for intimate casual suppers, cocktails, serious evenings of work or just chilling to classic films, especially anything by Alfred Hitchcock (whose actors always look so elegant in their Edith Head wardrobes).
I admire finely framed drawings, Helmut Newton’s photography, great oversized coffee table books, candlelit rooms featuring distinguished yet subtle scents, a simple vase of white flowers: calla lilies, roses, tulips, daisies, or hydrangeas, or a grand vase of pussy willows blooming upon long branches. I love old crystal, antique silver and porcelain, bedside lamps with pale silk shades, crisp white linen bed sheets, adorned with just an edge of lace and covered with piles of voluptuous pillows, old school Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, black leather bomber jackets or worn-to-softness denim jackets, jeans with a meticulous fit, oversized men’s trousers in black or white silk worn by a woman, a silk button-down blouse, diamond studs – real or not, diamonds by the yard – real or not, a stack of plain gold bangles, a white or black cashmere overcoat, a classic Burberry trench, finely wrought lingerie that is well laundered and ironed, the light scent of patchouli, musk, white flowers or fig. A wide brimmed hat, straw for summer and wool, mohair, or angora felt for winter, or a slightly oversized white or black wool knit cap with a trailing matching scarf, fine leather gloves, a simple cashmere, cotton or silk shawl.
This Blonde seeks that very American, casual yet sexy, sportive yet chic, style that lets the world know you’re a woman of grace and class.
One can stroll along the streets of East Hampton or Greenwich, Connecticut or saunter down the Avenues Madison, Michigan, Bedford and Worth or walk along Robertson Boulevard or Rittenhouse Square, and note those women who just have something special.
The question is what is it and how can you develop you own innate personal sense of style.
Style is the ability to create a transformational experience in our world based upon what we wear, collect, live in and surround ourselves with, in order to send the message that we are unique, powerful, comfortable in our own skin and above all, not committed to conforming to whatever the media states is “in fashion”, or even worse, following every trend.
True style can last a lifetime and certain stylish accoutrements can remain chic for decades. One of my favorite blondes is Lauren Bacall. If we look back to her earliest movies with Humphrey Bogart in the 1940’s, her tailored clothing, side parted hair and nonchalant attitude could easily fit in circa 2015. And Bacall herself, outside the movies, retained that crisp but insouciant style until her passing last year. Her finely tailored button-down shirts and simple elegant frocks and fitted or flowing trousers were absolute perfection to This Blonde’s eye. And there isn’t a suit, shirt, hat or tie that Bogey wore in the 40’s that hasn’t been replicated or resourced in the top haberdasheries of the world.
Grace Kelly is another magnificent example of a blonde who chose basic great lines in her suits and gowns, and accessorized with just the perfect shoes, bags, scarves, and glasses. She created an ideal image: iconic, elegant, dramatic, yet subtle and mysterious.
Katharine Hepburn, a redhead, definitely had a look that seemed to embody an era in which high society types played croquet in fitted button-down shirts tucked into oversized white trousers, a sweater tied nonchalantly across their shoulders. I also picture her in long pleated skirts worn with dressmaker worthy polo shirts, swinging a golf club or a tennis racquet. That sportiness works well today, even if you are a blonde and not a redhead! Designers like Ralph Lauren and Tory Burch have revisited that style for the twenty-first century.
Audrey Hepburn is another paragon of style. Think of this brunette beauty and images of a little black Givenchy dress, oversized dark glasses, and a printed headscarf or broad brimmed hat immediately come to mind. Over the last sixty years, her look has never been anything less than stylish.
I remember Jerry Hall in the 80’s with her long flowing blonde hair and long flowing dresses worn with great elan and topped by a casual jean jacket, completely current, a look my daughters pull off flawlessly today. Or I think of the other models of that era in Capri length jeans and just the right sweater or blouse that took ordinary to glamorous at the concerts and clubs of the day and still work perfectly now with just a dial or download of inner blondness.
And I maintain an image of Jennifer Lopez in that famous Versace dress. It was cut down to here and up to there, but her strength and intelligence, her personal style, superseded the sense of vulgarity that the dress could have engendered if it had been worn by another woman lacking in Lopez’s supreme confidence.
Herman Melville wrote:
“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation “
– so create your original inner blondeness inside out or outside in…..but do it!
Fashion, of course, can be part of style, but it can also be its opposite. People who follow trends too assiduously without developing their own sense of what looks good on them, are anything but stylish. But often these seemingly classless label addicts, or unthinking fashion show copyists do learn and eventually develop a sense of their own best look. It is great to be a trendsetter, but not a complete trend follower. A trend can be there for a nanosecond and appear dated rapidly, but style is inherent, style is forever. As nonagenarian icon Iris Apfel said, “Fashion you can buy, but style you possess.”
But that does not mean that your sense of style can’t continue to develop. Your style has to reflect your body type and your age. 77-year-old Jane Fonda recently told Harpers Bazaar (June, 2015) that her son had notified her a few years ago that she was dressing inappropriately. The stunning blonde Fonda, who still has a most enviable figure, took note. Today, she is always one of the best-dressed women at any awards ceremony.
This Blonde firmly believes a certain fashion sense can be learned. Someone without intrinsic style can learn to look chic, learn to look fashionable without crossing over into questionable too trendy territory.
This Blonde was raised by a true glamour girl of a different era. My mother was a woman who survived the loss of her own mom as a teenager, the Depression, World War ll, being a widow to that war, living through Korea, Vietnam, the death of her identical twin sister, heartbreak, divorce after a long marriage, and numerous other life circumstances, both imaginable and unimaginable. Yet along with the many ups and downs of her life, and the many ups and downs of her hemlines, she remained true to her impeccable Depression era values, and also true to her own personal style. I remember as a young girl, my mother taught me that less is more and quality never goes out of fashion. That’s style! Her basic credo was that it is important to own a few simply cut great quality black dresses, classic black day and evening heels, a mid-heel black boot that goes with everything, and a great black daytime bag along with a sparkly evening one. Also, at least a few well-tailored suits in tweed or navy blue or grey, and several bright silk blouses, along with a couple white ones. She also felt it was important to have an important bag, preferably alligator, some well fitting slacks or jeans, a couple cashmere sweaters, a great classic wool coat (she bought a new one each year), one divine evening coat (which lasted more than one year), and one trench coat. Also some pearl or diamond earrings. She strongly believed the right bag, shoes, and coat could transform a day dress into an evening dress, take the wearer from a business meeting to after school kiddy pick up, and somehow have the magical ability to metamorphose into an elegant yet sexy cocktail dress to be worn to a spiffy restaurant for dinner. It was all in the attitude of the wearer, in this case my slim and chic mother. She completely eschewed trendy items, but was not opposed to some oversized costume jewelry and had an infectious enthusiasm for her beloved mink coats and men’s fedora hats.
The other major style influence I had growing up developed from the vast selection of attire I accumulated for my impressive collection of Barbie Dolls. I learned about feminine fashion from spending hours dressing them for work or gala evenings or dinner dates with Ken. Later, I became my very own Barbie!
So, for This Blonde, like my take on daily breakfast, each outfit must begin with an inspiration. I am not a big “outfit planner” unless I am traveling or have a need to focus my attentions on an unusual occasion (like a wedding or awards ceremony or even a first date). I purchase my wardrobe as individual beautiful items present themselves to me (often on sale). And like my mother before me, I don’t believe in media-generated trends or momentary fads. No fashion faux pas, discomfort or even the slightest bit of self-consciousness for This Blonde. My clothes are an extension of myself. We are best dressed when we wear a smile, and our attire suits our inner beauty as well as our outer physical self, when our thoughts, health habits, surroundings, and commitments are all in harmony. That said, a giant cocktail ring, a scarf wrapped just so and an armful of bracelets can easily say I have style and it’s not contrived. It’s all mine.
