In the style of Grace Kelly, simplicity, sophistication, femininity and light coquetry were harmoniously combined. Even in an ordinary white shirt and trousers, the Princess of Monaco knew how to look elegant and effective. Unsurprisingly, her perfect looks have become a visual aid to creating the perfect wardrobe for many women. Novate.ru offers to find out what helped the American actress become a style icon and go down in fashion history forever.
Real style icons have never followed the trendy canons. They preferred to create trends on their own, inspiring designers to experiment. Exactly the same strategy was followed by Grace Kelly, who managed to radiate an aura of sophistication, sophistication, fragility. And although many of her images were perceived by the fashion of the twentieth century as innovative, her style is still relevant today.
1. Capri pants
In May 1955, Grace Kelly went to the Cannes Film Festival as head of the American delegation. It was then that the actress first met her future husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco. For the photo shoot on board the yacht, Grace chose a laconic white shirt and capri pants. The relaxed-elegant image created at that moment by the actress was remembered by many, and capri pants later became a real Kelly's calling card.
2. Scarves
Grace Kelly adored silk scarves, turning them into a must-have of her wardrobe. She believed that if this accessory was successfully knitted, then even the most boring outfit would sparkle with new colors. The actress perceived the scarf as an excellent opportunity not only to correctly place accents in the image, but also to make all the details of the ensemble successfully harmonize with each other.
The princess wore shawls with blouses, summer dresses, business suits, each time finding a new location for them. She tied them around her neck, on her head, tied to a handbag or a belt loop. Grace's interest in the accessory did not go unnoticed. So, the Hermes company decided to create a scarf and name it after the actress. But it had to be worn in a special way - twisted around the neck and tied at the back or side.
3. Shirt dress
At the beginning of her career, Grace's style was as simple and concise as possible, and therefore accessible to any American girl. In the wardrobe of the actress, one could see shirt dresses, trousers, cardigans, ballet flats and pumps. The elegant outfits, complemented by simple yet stylish details, were reminiscent of the preppy aesthetic - a mixture of office and business style and casual. This trend was characterized by such qualities as restraint, laconicism, sophistication, emphasized neatness and convenience - what the princess of Monaco always strived for.
For her engagement to Rainier III, Grace chose a fitted shirt dress with sleeves to the elbow, complemented by a graceful brooch and weightless scarves. It would seem that it was an ordinary outfit without frills, but how well it matched the event. At the same time, a gentle, fragile, innocent and luxurious image is what you need to celebrate your engagement to the Prince of Monaco.
4. Striped skirt
Many stylists and designers consider stripes to be the perfect summer print. Grace Kelly always associated it with the sea, warm rays of the sun, velvet sand underfoot, the sound of waves breaking on the shore. Probably, that is why for a vacation on the Riviera, the actress has always chosen things in expressive stripes, in particular, skirts. The princess supplemented her outfits with espadrilles - light summer shoes visually reminiscent of slippers with a heel, which are distinguished by a flat rope sole made of jute, as well as a suede or textile upper. Grace believed that in such shoes she was comfortable in any weather, even in the heat, so she was her ardent fan.
5. Loose fit shirt
A loose shirt with a sporty cut, visually reminiscent of a man's, is an excellent clothing option for a casual look. It can be plain or with a geometric print, in particular, check or striped. You should definitely pay attention to how Grace Kelly wore this thing - the sleeves are always rolled up to the elbow, and the top pair of buttons is unbuttoned. The result is a loose, careless, exciting bow with a touch of sexuality - what could be more attractive?
6. Bright coat
Grace Kelly's wardrobe has always been dominated by laconic things in neutral shades. However, at a more mature age, she slightly changed her attitude towards colors and began to give preference to bright things. Another proof of this is the light green coat. The actress wore it complete with a light scarf decorated with a floral pattern - it turned out to be a very beautiful, stylish and bright image, ideal for cold weather.
7. Twinset
A twinset is a matching color or print oversized cardigan and off-the-shoulder top. The princess preferred the laconic design of the British brand Pringle of Scotland, complementing the clothes with stylish accessories to make it look more stylish and bright. The list of such accessories included a string of pearls, a silk scarf, glasses in a massive round right, a velvet hoop and others.
Nowadays, many people consider twinsets to be old-fashioned, however, if you know how to wear them correctly, you can create a really cool look. For example, a knitted two-piece can be combined with a denim skirt, culottes, or you can wear a cardigan and top separately. The most important thing is to avoid uniformity in colors, fabrics and textures, harmoniously combining different wardrobe items.
Interesting information: In 2013, Pringle brought together students from the Saint Martin College of Art and Design to collaborate to create a collection inspired by the princess of Monaco. The result of the work was an elegant and sophisticated capsule "Princess Grace: More than an Image".
8. Sleeveless turtleneck
Grace Kelly was very fond of this feminine wardrobe item, but for some reason modern designers have unfairly forgotten about it. A sleeveless turtleneck is a great choice for girls with a slender waist, beautiful arms, shoulders and an even posture. Clothing stretches the silhouette, makes the figure more delicate and fragile. The turtleneck can be used to create a wide variety of bows: business, casual, romantic. It goes well with skirts, trousers, straight jeans (although it looks great with skinny too).
9. Pants with high waist
Coco Chanel often said that properly selected trousers (especially with a high waist) look more seductive than the most luxurious and expensive dresses. Grace Kelly was of the same opinion, and therefore she gladly wore straight trousers "both in the feast and in the world." She combined them with blouses, shirts and cardigans, each time creating a new spectacular image that inspires others.
10. Straight fit jeans
Despite the fact that Grace spent half of her life in Monaco, she was still born in America. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that when drawing up her wardrobe, the actress focused primarily on convenience and comfort, and only then on beauty. Hence the love for jeans - the most practical clothing of our time. Included with them, Kelly often wore a white shirt, complementing the minimalist image with an elegant silk scarf and a Hermes bag, which was later named after the actress.
11. Dress with a fluffy skirt
Grace Kelly lived at a time when Christian Dior ruled the fashion world. The era of the new look obliged to fill your wardrobe with fitted blouses, flared skirts, dresses with a fluffy hem. By the way, about the latter - the princess's favorite outfit was dresses with an accentuated waistline, a high bodice and a fluffy skirt. Also, the actress could often be seen in the bustier model, which emphasizes the beauty and sophistication of the shoulders. As for jewelry, in 90% of cases it was pearls, which Grace wore both in films and in life.
And if you want to know in what dress Grace got married, read the article Bride in a Million: 6 of the most beautiful, famous and expensive wedding dresses