Fashion Influential #75: Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly, despite her parents' disapproval, wanted to be an actress from an early age. She studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York, where she began working as a model and landed her first small acting role in the film 14 Hours. She was talented, of course, but it didn't hurt that Kelly was stunningly beautiful. From there, she acted in a couple more films, including Mogambo with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner. She had Gable had an affair during the filming, to which Kelly replied nonchalantly: "What else is there to do if you're alone in a tent in Africa with Clark Gable?"

Career Highs.
Kelly came into the public eye after being noticed by director Alfred Hitchcock. She had played the lead role in the Gary Cooper film High Noon, and Hitchcock was impressed: He had finally found the cool, quintessential blonde he had been searching for. She acted in seven movies for Hitchcock, winning two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award. Kelly met Prince Rainier of Monaco while traveling in Europe for the Cannes Film Festival, and he, too, found in Kelly the perfect woman he was looking for. The two were married in an extravagant ceremony in 1956. From then on, she was Her Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco, and Kelly retired from her acting career.
I'll tell you one of the reasons I'm ready to leave. When I first came to Hollywood five years ago, my makeup call was at eight in the morning. On this movie it's been put back to seven-thirty. Every day I see Joan Crawford, who's been in makeup since five, and Loretta Young, who's been there since four in the morning. I'll be goddamned if I'm going to stay in a business where I have to get up earlier and earlier and it takes longer and longer for me to get in front of a camera.
                                                                                          - Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly in her wedding dress with Prince Rainier of Monaco.
Career Lows.
After she got married, Hitchcock offered Kelly a part in his new film Marnie, but the public was so against her participation that she turned it down. In fact, her husband banned all of her movies from being shown in Monaco. Kelly's famous beauty and elegance followed her negatively as well: Throughout her life, rumors had her linked to affairs with several high-profile men, including the Shah of Iran, Ray Milland, Bing Crosby, Oleg Cassini and David Niven. 

Legacy.
Besides her films and her royal family, Grace Kelly left an imprint on the world with her famous look. She was tall, slender, with icy blonde hair and cool blue eyes, always the image of poise and perfection. And her film wardrobes have gone down in history: the sheer neglige from Rear Window and her capri pants and head scarves in To Catch A Thief, for starters. Kelly was shown in casual sportswear with an elegant twist - a fresh look for fashion, which she popularized (along with the oversized handbags). She set the standard for a new type of wholesome image, one that achieved a womanly girl-next-door aura and a subtle, not overt, sexiness. Even before her marriage, Kelly was a true princess: classy, sophisticated, discreet and eternal.

Grace Kelly dressed cool and casual.
Get the Look. 
Grace Kelly's style success lies in her ability to create balanced ensembles. Her makeup was understated, her hair was shining, and her clothes were immaculate: knee-grazing pencil skirts with tiny waists and sexy jackets, or a simple, classic ballgown. The entire look should be effortless and prim, but still figure-conscious enough to be stunning.