L'Interdit, meaning forbidden was created exclusively in 1957 for Audrey Hepburn by Hubert de Givenchy. Legend has it that Ms. Hepburn told Givenchy it would be "forbidden" to share her special perfume scent with the rest of the world & Voila! a name was born. A densely powdery perfume with innocence as it's selling point. A combination of flowers, fruit & spices
anchored by a musky & resinous base.
Such a classic scent! Warm, Elegant & Feminine.
I simply adore vintage parfum ads...
here are a few which I found extraordinarily exquisite & FUN to share!
1950's Yves Saint Laurent PARIS
1980's Ad with Retro 50's Elizabeth Taylor
Late 50's CHANEL #5
Love that Slogan!
1970's Jean-Louis Scherrer
Late 70's Charlie. Too Fabulous.
Diorella! 1970's Style.
1960's Chanel #22 The Romance Perfume
Disco Inspired 70's Blue Jeans.
Love the denim look packaging!!
50's Retro AVON & the florals..
Max Factor Seductive & the early 1960's Primitif
70's & 80's Sophia wearin' it with a passion by Coty.
Today is International Women's Day & to celebrate I've been thinking about some of the amazing women who have inspired me in my career, my music & life in general. Audrey Hepburn is always at the top of that list for her grace & elegance, but more importantly for the quiet strength she conveyed throughout her life & the personal struggles of her early years.
Audrey grew up in a Nazi occupied Netherlands. During the winter of 1944 all imports of food were discontinued in order to punish The Dutch Resistance. Sadly, more than 20,000 Dutch citizens died during that winter. Audrey's previously carefree childhood days suddenly were surrounded in fear, hunger, hardship & detriment. It was around this time that Audrey turned to art & dance as a coping mechanism & an escape from a dangerous & uncertain world. Through her own determination & will she became a very accomplished performer & soon began dancing for local groups. Groups, in fact, which were secretly collecting monies for the
Dutch Resistance.
“I designed the dances myself, I had a friend that played the piano, and my mother made the costumes. They were very amateurish attempt – but…it amused people. The recitals were given in houses with windows and doors closed, and no one outside knew what was going on. Afterward, money was collected and turned over to the Dutch Underground.”
“The best audience I ever had made not a single sound at the end of my performance.”
In later years Audrey dedicated her life to helping impoverished children in very poor nations & became a UNICEF Ambassador.
"I can testify to what UNICEF means to children, because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II,I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does."
Sometimes it's hard to relax within ourselves & just BE, although it seems like the simplest of things now doesn't it? It's one of the reasons I think I'm so drawn to the singular style of The Hep. This beautiful new book by Margaret Cardillo with illustrations by Julia Denos is a fabulous lesson in the art of just being & it's a glorious journey into the life & dreams of Audrey.
BE inspired by stunningly soft pastel illustrations by Julia Denos
"As a little girl growing up in Nazi-occupied Europe, she learned early on that true kindness is the greatest measure of a person—and it was a lesson she embodied as she became one of the first actresses to use her celebrity to shine a light on the impoverished children of the world, through her work with UNICEF."
“She was too tall, her feet were too big, and her neck was too long” “her eyes seemed too big for her head.”
These were precisely the traits that made Audrey an iconic beauty as an adult.
Never allow yourself to be defined by one thing or another. Let every side of YOU collide & coexist with the other...
Hey Hey & Welcome to my first new blog entry! Hepburn Girl in a Gaga world. My goal with this new blog adventure is to share my love of Audrey Hepburn & all of the many reasons I am so inspired by her life, her vision, her style & her elegance.
I've met so many fabulous friends & fans who also find style inspiration from The Hep...I'm looking forward to sharing these entries with YOU & hoping to meet many new "Hepsters" too!
Simple Staples. Affordable & Fabulous..
"My Look is Attainable!" Audrey Hepburn
Enduring & Elegant can also mean Comfortable & Relevant
I believe it's Audrey's utter lack of ego & her down to earth charm which continues
to make her such an irresistable & magnetic American cinematic Icon today.
