AUDREY HEPBURN STYLE GUIDE. STYLE AS A WAY OF LIFE

Audrey Hepburn was one of the world's most stylish women - she created many trends, including that for the little black dress. Here's a quick, concise guide on copying her look.  In her younger years she only wanted to be a dancer. By the standards of her time, she could not manage it. But her dancer’s discipline she had learned, turned her into a wonderful life technician. "Dancers do a lot of technical things out of good habit. When we relax we never get sloppy. In my case that’s because when my ballet teacher, Madame Rambert, would catch us folding our arms or slouching our shoulders she’d give us a good rap across the knuckles with a stick… Dancers learn to feel when their posture is not graceful…"

Audrey Hepburn was unique among other actresses in so many ways: in the way she looked and carried herself gracefully, in the way she refused to pose for the cheesecake photos, in the way she viewed her life and her career.

In the course of her career she never adopted the life style of an American theatre and movie star. Her focus was mainly on her work and training. She used to say that acting did not come easy to her. When she won her Oscar for "Roman Holiday", Audrey said: "I believe in fixing a goal for myself and not being diverted in any way from pursuing that goal. I can’t allow this award or all this public acclaim to turn my head or induce me to ease up."

Audrey Hepburn style was in her way of life rather than in her manner to wear her dresses. During filming of "The Unforgiven" Audrey fell from a horse on her back. X rays showed four broken vertebrae, torn muscles in her lower back and a badly sprained foot. Her nurse said she had never had a patient like her in her thirty years practice: she refused narcotics and sedatives, and despite her pain never complained. A friend visiting her in a hospital, described Audrey: "She lay propped up in an immaculate bed in her immaculate bedroom…She wore a snow-white Victorian high-necked nightgown. Her hair was pulled back mirror-smooth into a pony tail and tied with white ribbon to match the white ribbon on her beautifully groomed little Yorkshire terrier. Around the room stood white Limoges vases with white tulips and orchids."

THE CLOTHES

Firstly, give your wardrobe a clean out, getting rid of any clothes you don't think Audrey herself would wear. When deciding to keep clothes, or to buy new clothes, remember; her favorite colours for clothes were black and white, and, on rare occasions, pink, and her favorite designer was Givenchy . Also, make sure your wardrobe contains:

#* A little black dress - made famous by Audrey in ''Breakfast at Tiffany's''. Buy one that is very plain, as you can accessorize it later

#* A white blouse - these became big in the 1950s after Audrey wore one in her film ''Roman Holiday''. Buy one that is very plain, and remember to tie it at the waist!

#* A black turtle neck

#* Capri pants #* Black, skinny leg trousers - Audrey wore these for a casual look, teaming them with a black turtle necks and black flats #* Full, 50's inspired skirts #* A pair of flats - Audrey started this trend as well, seeing as she was already quite tall (at 5'7"). If you're only going to have one pair, make sure they're black.
#* A small neck scarf #* A long scarf - buy one in neutral colours, and wear it often, in any way you want

THE MAKEUP

To get Audrey Hepburn inspired makeup, follow this guide:
#* If you have good skin, apply some tinted moisturizer. If you have shiny skin, or bad skin, then apply some foundation, in the lightest shade you can get away with. #* Your eyes are going to be the focus of your face
#**First, cover the lids in a beige shadow.
#**Next, line your top and bottom lids with a soft liner, in either dark brown or charcoal, then do a small flick outwards (the cat-eye).
#**After this, dip a cotton bud into some dark-grey eyeshadow, and carefully apply it over the top of your eyeliner, blending it slightly with your beige eyeshadow #**Finally, apply two coats of black mascara to both your top and bottom lashes
#*Apply a warm peach blusher with a big powder brush, taking it from the apple's of your cheeks and upwards
#*Apply some creamy red lipstick
# The Jewelery. Audrey kept her jewelery quite minimal, and very tasteful. Avoid completely big, chunky pieces. She also never wore watches. When thinking about jewelery, instead of buying a drawer full of cheap things, buy only one or two good quality things.
#* Buy a pair of simple stud earrings, which is all Audrey usually wore in her day-to-day life

FINISHING TOUCH

Do have a true Audrey feeling:
#* Wear ''Joy'' perfume - it's very inexpensive, and Audrey wore it every day whilst shooting ''My Fair Lady''

TIPS

*When thinking about your hairstyle, there are two options. If you have short hair, get a ''pixie cut.'' If you have long hair, tie it up in either a bun, a French twist or a half-up/half-down style do. If your hair is curly, straighten it.
*Keep your eyebrows in a good condition. If you look at Audrey her eyebrows are always neat and suit her face.
*Audrey also wore perfumes like Spring Flower by Creed, or L'Interdit by Givency.
*Keep your nails polished in a subtle color, like pale pink or clear. Trim or file them so they're not too long.

*Try wearing nice, classy trench coats, tied around the waist, and casual day-dresses. If you're wearing a shirt, always tuck it in. You want to really draw attention to your waist. However, never wear anything ''too'' tight or low-cut - remember: '''classy.'''
*When thinking of accessories, try necklaces and earrings of pearl or diamond, a classy diamond ring, , and a leather handbag with wooden handles. If you can't afford the real things, but very tasteful fakes, that aren't flashy. Also, when it's sunny, throw on some over sized sunglasses.
*When going out, try wearing elbow length, black or white opera gloves
*Only wear heels for going out - buy them in black or brown, high quality, and with round or pointed toes.
*Perfect your posture
**Help with UNICEF
*Audrey was well spoken, humble, graceful and cultured. Don't be an obnoxious,swearing, uncultured, attention-seeking fool. The best thing about Audrey was her ability to carry herself beautifully and anything you do that is ugly will ruin your embodiment of her. Not to mention lose you the respect of others around you.
**Always remember, when getting dressed, to look classy
*But don't try to be her. The whole point is to like yourself for who you are, and to focus on your pro's than your con's. Also, to try to be the best you can be (classy!) like Audrey always did.

QUOTES

I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person. - Audrey Hepburn.

I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.  -  Audrey Hepburn

I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.  - Audrey Hepburn

If I get married, I want to be very married.   -  Audrey Hepburn.

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.'  - Audrey Hepburn

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.Audrey Hepburn Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.  - Audrey Hepburn

Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same.  - Audrey Hepburn

The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.  - Audrey Hepburn.

There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion.

Audrey Hepburn