~Little Black Dress,sings Moon River @ Tiffany's,5 A.M._Audrey of course!!~

Talk about a page turner...that is if you're an "All things Audrey Hepburn Fan"! I've been working on completing my Summer/Winter Reading List 2012.

This little gem of a book called_"Fifth Avenue,5 A.M." by Sam Wasson was awesome.It was almost like being privy to 204 pages of nitty,gritty,gossip about what went on behind the scenes before and during the making of _Breakfast at Tiffany's.Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress (Audrey Hepburn) and a cast of characters;(Writer)Truman Capote,(Director)Blake Edwards,(Designer)Givenchy,(Composer) Henry Mancini and the powerful heads behind Hollywood Studios.

This is America of the early Sixties_before "Woodstock(1969) and Birth Control Pills"..the FDA approved the first oral contraceptive in 1960, contraceptives were not available to married women in all states until 1965 and were not available to unmarried women in all states until 1972. Holly Golightly, a High-Class Call Girl  raised eyebrows across America,changing  the way Fashion,Film and Sex would play out for decades to come! Wow! if only the puritan,"Production Coders" could see us now.Yes,this very small group of men were there to protect Americans from exposure to immoral behaviour on the Big Screen. Right...Remember this was the "Era of BIG Bosoms", Marilyn Monroe,Jayne Mansfield,Tempest Storm..,etc..!

I shiver to think that "Breakfast at Tiffany's" may not have been a film....because Capote didn't want Audrey to play Holly_he wanted Marilyn Monroe, Audrey didn't want to play Holly because she had a dainty,immaculate image to uphold,Screenwriters were terrified that the Production Code Men would not like the Call Girl status of Holly, Audrey's contract stipulated that she would "only" wear Hubert de Givenchy,Studio Executives did NOT want Blake Edwards to be the Director nor did Audrey, no one liked egotistical George Peppard, no one wanted Mickey Rooney to play the part of Mr.Yunioshi...Yo!..he was "NOT Japanese" & everyone hated the HOAX  he played on the public...very offensive,indeed  and they really did not want Henry Mancini composing a song for Audrey who could not sing....among other things..there's much more! But it was made...and it's still talked about today.

Especially,"The Little Black Dress".Here's a little trivia_two identical (kinda) dresses of the same LBD_one for standing gazing in the window at Tiffany's.One for walking down 5th Avenue.Seems the standing one would have made Audrey walk like a Geisha_to tight..so Givenchy made a looser one for walking!Now about that LBD...Prior to the 1920's black was reserved for women in mourning,during Victorian and Edwardian times a mourning period was up to two years in black(only);WWI deaths plus Spanish Flu Epidemic fatalities made the wearing of black more common for women in public. I came across this Pictorial History of the LBD...enjoy..

                                                1925

                                               1927

1928

                                 1930 Josephine Baker (peacock feathers)

                                                1935

                                                1936

                                            1939 Wallis Simpson

                                                1943

                                   1948 Dior,wasp waist,full skirt

                              1949 Velvet & Satin Cocktail Dress(my favorite.)

                                     1951 Plunging Neckline,Pencil Skirt

                                         This shape dominated 1950's

                                          1955 Graceful(LOVE IT)

                           1956 Galanos wool crepe w/bare chiffon midriff

                                           1957 Paris Pouf

                                1959 Coco Chanel_finishing touches on dress

                             1961 "THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS" Givenchy

                                      1962_Chanel influenced rows of Pearls

                                             1965_Sophia's Classic Look

                                             1960's MINI-Dress!!!

                                      1970 Jackie O's La Cote Basque Dress

                                          1970's Liza in slinky DISCO!

                                 1977_Blondie's Deborah Harry in Rock Style

                                          1985 House of Chanel,Lagerfield

                                       1988_Iman updates TLBD

                                1994 Lagerfield's brief Mini,Coco disliked the Mini!

                                          1994_Princess Diana's,Revenge LBD
                                          

                                          1994 Versace's very open LBD!

                                       1999_Calista's Step Back in Time Look 

                                   2002 Kate Moss_minimum,barely there LBD

                                              2008 Dior

                        2009 Mrs.Obama_Graceful,"First Lady" in Azzendine Alaia

                                     2010_Heidi Klum's Little Bitty Tiny LBD!

                                   2012 The New Generation of The "LBD"

                                                                 ..and the LBD lives on for future generations!

And to think we almost didn't get to hear Audrey voice :

or realize Henry Mancini's greatness.Nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammy's,winning 20,nominated for 18 Academy Awards,won 4,won a Golden Globe,nominated for 2 Emmy's_won 2 Oscar's in 1962 for Moon River along with Johnny Mercer(words).BUT.....my favorite tune from Henry Mancini comes from the Peter Gunn Series...:

So ,Ladies when's the last time you wore a reallllllllllllllly nice "LBD"???????Well,that's tooooo long....

"I'm So Audrey"!!!!!!!!

Well, as you've probably guessed_I'm so Audrey! I can't remember the first time I saw her in a movie.Her Grace and Elegant_I've admired for many years.It could be why I'm so into wearing my Pearls on most any  and all occasions. I 've decided to pay tribute to her grand career by sharing tidbits of information for the Audrey at Heart! Near the bottom of the page you'll find a Filmography and other media of Audrey Hepburn.You'll find various articles to purchase from Amazon on the sidelines.The DVD "How to Steal a Million" should be high on your list.It has a Bonus Feature_A and E's Biography of Audrey Hepburn. Get to know this amazing woman through my Blog this week..and maybe until the end of the month.

             Scene from Roman Holiday 1953

Audrey Hepburn born AUDREY KATHLEEN RUSTON:(May 4,1929-January 20,1993 died)_was a British Actress and Humanitarian.She was a film and fashion icon of the 20th century and redefined what glamour looked like in the days when voluptuous women(Kim K's of the Day) demanded attention. Givenchy designed her clothing and she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.Audrey was ranked by the American Film Institute,as the third greatest female screen legend in the history of American Cinema!.

Hepburn was born in Brussels but spent her childhood between Belgium,England and the Netherlands including German-occupied Arnhem during WWII.

                  Roman Holiday_1953_First Movie

However some of her greatest work was her devotion to UNICEF.Her passion for humanitarian worked was sparked by her own war-time struggles.Hepburn worked in Africa,South America and Asia in the late 80's.She had contributed to the organization since the 1950's.In 1992,she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador..

Her mother was a Baroness_Dutch Aristocrat,her father British born.In 1944,Hepburn became a proficient ballerina.She went on to perform in theatre,getting a giant break when the French Novelist Colette chose her to play in the Broadway play Gigi.Opening on November 24,1951 at the Fulton Theatre,the play ran for 219 performances finishing on May 31,1952.Hepburn debut earned a Theatre World Award .

      Academy Award_Best Actress_Roman Holiday 1953

And,in 1953 she was casted in Roman Holiday as her first starring role as Princess Ann.The producers wanted Elizabeth Taylor_but Audrey was  everything they were looking for,charm,innocence and completely unaware of her talents.Hepburn went on to earn an Academy Award for her performance in Roman Holiday! And the rest is history! Join me on the journey to pay tribute to a great LADY.....

"Movie Day!...Tribute to Audrey Hepburn"

Books & Movies & Music & Art...some of my favorite things! I've been having "Movie Days" with a girlfriend or two since the 90's.My favorite movies are the Classics,Drama(especially Period pieces,Real Life,Romantic,etc..).So,I kicked off my "Audrey Hepburn Tribute" for next week by having a Movie Day with a good friend. We watched _or rather I re-watched_the "Audrey Hepburn Story" & "Breakfast at Tiffany's".Then a documentary of Audrey Hepburn's Fashion & Style! Wow!

Just as important was the food...there's always food with movies.But, NOT your popcorn,hot dog,chips & candy type. So,my friend came with an abundance of Appetizer's:

Wild Salmon w/Dilled Asparagus,Indian-Spiced Feta Cheese and Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Herb Feta Cheese Spreads!Delicious!!!!!!!

Whole Wheat Berry crackers with turbinado sugar,Mexican vanilla..her own secret recipe! Created a partee in your mouth w/ the spreads...

I made a light lunch:

Tomato Basil/Rosemary Soup,Grilled Pepper Turkey/Jalapeno Pepper Cheese,Peperoncini,Watercress on Seeded Rye bread.We had Perrier Water & Wine ,of course_Luc Pirlet Reserve 2008 Pinot Noir & Luc Pirlet Cabernet-Sauvignon 2010.

Topped it off later on with Dark Belgian Chocolate Mini-Tea Cups filled w/Strawberry Coulis.And the "Piece de resistance":

Crepes filled w/blackberries with strawberry coulis,vanilla Greek yogurt and dark chocolate cocoa!

NOT YOUR EVERDAY MOVIE FOODS........can't wait to continue my Tribute to Audrey Hepburn next week! Bon Appetit.....