Who is the Modern Day Audrey Hepburn?

Who is the modern day Audrey Hepburn? My obsession with this style icon goes beyond her life and legacy. There’s only so much I can find about Audrey’s memory before I’m forced to live in the present, so now I find myself looking for her in today’s celebrities. So who is a modern day Audrey, is it Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley or Leighton Meester? If I rank these celebrities on looks I’d be in trouble because all of them have somewhat Audrey Hepburn traits, the high cheekbones, slender figure, and lets face it, they are all drop dead gorgeous. I may favour Leighton because her alter ego Blair on Gossip Girl may actually be the origin of my Audrey obsession, way back when the Gossip Girl books were first published. Leighton’s personal style isn’t really Audrey Hepburn, Blair however is exactly what a modern day Audrey Hepburn should be. Coincidentally I love all these actresses to pieces, Keira Knightley may actually rank the highest in comparison to Audrey’s film credentials, she may not be there yet, but Keira’s film choices are always classics. Anne Hathaway has been touted as a modern day Audrey Hepburn for her take on Hollywood glamour. Anne’s style is elegant and something about her just summons My Fair Lady to mind. Now I simply adore Natalie Portman, the woman can do no wrong, and I think she’s probably the one that could wear the Audrey Hepburn pixie cut best. Her films are great, and she’s definitely on my best dressed list. Everything about her oozes perfection, she’s a brilliant actress (her portrayal of Anne Boleyn had me mesmerized), and I’d kill for her wardrobe. Portman is nearly always featured in Teen Vogue, at least once an issue. So the question still remains who is the modern day Audrey Hepburn? Since I can’t fairly evaluate Leighton Meester as the fictional character Blair Waldorf I will have to make my choice from real life celebrities. In film, I’m leaning towards Keira Knightley, but if I evaluate fashion sense I’m drawn to Anne Hathaway. All these ladies know ‘how to be lovely’, but the one with the film credentials who is also an emerging style icon has to be Natalie Portman, how could I not choose the one with the taste, talent, and face for Audrey’s signature hairstyles.

Think Pink!

Although my allegiance still lies with Forever 21, Pink Ice is making it hard. Forever 21 is still the best for variety and I will never relinquish it’s title as my head band hot spot. Pink Ice has nice designs although their fabric choices are not as desirable as those of Forever 21 they are gaining speed and fast. Their website just received a major facelift, and with its new face came a new line of dresses that I love. I was contemplating learning how to make my own dresses this summer and a few of the Pink Ice dresses are eerily reminiscent of the designs I’d sketched. Some of their designs have a bohemian vibe while others are designed more for nights out on the town. As you should already know I loved the Toga top/dress, but my picks from the new designs are the Printed Knot Dress (Limited Edition, $34.99), the Band Strap Dress ($27.99), and the Cross Knot Tunic ($27.99). Pink Ice ships worldwide so if there isn’t a store near you these babies are just a click away, and they also have a point system that helps you get more out of every dollar you spend. Mark my words, this is a store to watch, and I saw its predecessor a mile away.

Où êtes-vous ? Oleg Cassini

As you well know I’ve been searching tirelessly for a pair of Audrey-esque/Jackie O reminiscent sunglasses. Well this week my search finally came to a halt. Re-emerging after Oleg Cassini’s death two years ago is a line of sunglasses released under his brand name that I absolutely positively can’t get enough of. Whether it’s the squarish oversized pair that Nicole Richie has been sporting, or those timeless classic O shaped beauties that Jackie O made famous. “I’m bewitched bothered and bewildered” by this modern yet vintage line, and it makes sense that it was released under the name of the official wardrobe designer for Jacqueline Kennedy. I adore them yes, but the thing that’s bothering me is I can’t seem to find them online, the Oleg Cassini website was no help and neither is google, so I ask again, this time in English "Where are you? Oleg Cassini". I own the two pairs mentioned above, but my habit of breaking my sunglasses has me nervous that if I ever break them I’ll never get them back. If you want them, drop me a line and I’ll whisper where I found them, they won’t be there for long so hurry up!

Grecian Goddess

Take a page out of Aphrodite’s book, though the toga was actually formal attire for Greek men just like the kilts of Scotland, women wear it better! Show off your tan taut skin, toned shoulders and beautiful collarbone in a one-shoulder ensemble. I love this 2008 trend, think Katherine Heigl’s stunning crimson Escada dress at the Oscars, or more recently Carrie Bradshaw’s giant hibiscus dress in SATC, not to mention it’s one of the top wedding dress trends of the year. Whether it’s your swimsuit, a top or an asymmetrical gown, think TOGA! I obviously couldn’t promote togas without shamelessly hinting towards my favourite style icon. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (or in any other movie for that matter), who wouldn’t want to throw a shindig dressed in a bed sheet after watching this beauty carouse around a room like she was floating on air. I’ve got my eye out for one-shoulder pieces all around town, I most recently ordered a purple top from pinkicestore.com and I love it, I can wear it to a club as a dress or to dinner as a top.

P.S. Let me know if you find something I’d like.

Michelle Obama's $99 Dress

So it apparently costs $148 at White House/Black Market stores, while it’s offered on the Donna Ricco web site for only $99 or at Nordstrom for $98. I understand that people are shocked that the woman doesn’t squander her money, but good style can be done on a budget. I happen to love Donna Ricco and knowing that the possible next First Lady doesn’t spend her money frivolously is a big plus. At least you know your tax dollars aren’t going to paying for Chanel couture (not that I wouldn’t buy it if I could afford it). I think the fact that Senator Obama’s wife was seen on “the View” wearing such a budget friendly frock is a sign of practicality as well as style. Anyone can look good with a stylist and a lot of money, it takes a style savvy woman to shop on a budget and find something great. Obviously people agree because my source tells me the dresses are flying out of White House/Black Market stores, currently SOLD OUT on the Donna Ricco Website, and only available for pre-order on the Nordstrom site. It’s called the “tank leaf print dress” and it seems like she’s trying to tell us something considering the pun; she’s the prospective First Lady who purchased her dress at a store branded “White House” (*wink*wink*). I know I don’t usually talk politics but the more I know about Barack and Michelle Obama the more my faith grows in the leaders of the U.S.

I Love Your Funny Face

People always ask me why I call myself Funny Face and my response is usually, to quote the movie that started it all “I have no illusions about my looks, I think my face is perfectly funny.” To explain further Funny Face happens to be my favourite movie (Gap stole the dance sequence from the film and fused it with AC/DC in an ad series for the skinny black pant two years ago). Maybe it’s because I idolize Audrey, or maybe it’s because it’s subject matter falls into the categories of fashion, magazines, and intellect. Starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn there is nothing remotely bad about this movie. Audrey plays Jo Stockton a manager of a bookstore in Greenwich Village turned ‘Quality Woman’/Model in Paris. It’s a Cinderella story with some of the most romantic locales of Paris in its backdrop. Funny Face combines sight seeing, fashion and music with film, it’s cultured, it’s witty, and the fashion collections are still gorgeous, even if it was filmed over 50 years ago.