Fishing for....personal style icons

I'd like to discuss personal style icons. I know at any given moment a lot of you may be able to point out the people you consider stylish or well-dressed now. But I'd like a list of the people that inspired your personal style in your formidable years...as a child, as a teenager. Maybe you had a favorite movie or TV show you never missed and, consciously or unconsciously, you started to fashion yourself after this person.It may still linger in the choices you make today when shopping or styling your hair or furnishing your apartment. I really enjoyed putting this post together because in looking back over mine, it really started to explain a lot (good and bad).

Tippi Hedren

Best known as Hitchcock's muse in films like "The Birds" and "Marnie", Tippi has always been the most compelling image of femininity for me personally. Her image is cool, classy, sexy and her speaking voice always has a wry note to it that says she's in on any joke you're going to throw her way. Hitchcock tortured her in endless ways on screen and, reportedly, off screen as well, but, in my opinion, she always comes out unruffled and stylish in the end. Her iconic pale green suit from "The Birds" could be worn into any office today.

Marilyn Monroe

When I was in the fifth grade, I saw that famous image of her in the gold dress on the red background, and told my mother that's what I wanted to be...for Halloween, when I grow up, everything. And I threw myself into an obsession that's still lingering today..with her films, with her image, with her photos. Men were so often focused on a naked Marilyn Monroe that few people notice how much effort and thought she put into her image..her clothes, her hair, her photo shoots.  She wasn't born Marilyn Monroe, she was created through insight and hard work and I find that, amongst more obvious reasons, makes her an incredibly inspiring style icon. She also was reportedly the expert on doing her own makeup...she new exactly how to do her eyes and her lips and had all kinds of tricks to make them look even better on camera.

  

Audrey Hepburn

As a girl who grew up too skinny, too flat chested, with a long neck and a prominent nose...she gave me some hope of finding clothes that were stylish and alluring. Since I'm not a skinny dancer anymore, what inspires me about her now is the story of how she lived in Holland during the Nazi occupation of WWII on scarce food rations and participated in aiding the Dutch underground Resistance, grew up to be one of the world's most famous movie stars, and then retired early to devote herself to her children and the people of the world thru her work with UNICEF. Oh, and of course, the perfectly cut dresses of Givenchy, the pedal pusher pants with flats, the flattering yet practical hair styles, and the over-the-top icon of glamor, Holly Golightly. If anyone can ever find me a pair of the ornate ear plugs she sleeps in, I will be forever in your debt. They are my strangest Holy Grail of fashion accessories.

 

Charlie's Angels

I was riveted by this show as a child. While it originally aired a bit past my bedtime, I still saw these women as the most glamorous ever. I really thought that when I became a grown up that life would be like this. Now, I was never a Farah fan. For me, the two most beautiful and stylish were Cheryl Teigs and Jaclyn Smith. What I wouldn't give even now to own most of their wardrobe from this show, especially 70's string bikinis, sexy halter and jersey dresses, short shorts, smart suits with tied and ruffled neck silk blouses, and tight, high-waisted designer jeans. And they always found shoes that they could run in, no matter how high the heel.

   

Olivia Newton-John

This is the part where I embarrass myself, but if I'm going to be honest, then you have to know that I idolized Olivia Newton-John as a child. It started with "Grease", of course, but her real fashion and style influence on me peaked with "Xanadu". Generally misunderstood and unfairly dismissed as a horrible film (some people just don't get the appeal of a roller skating disco movie anymore), this movie and her image in it burned into my young, formidable mind. I wanted leg warmers with pumps and rollers skates, hair barrettes with dangling ribbons, spangled, glittery clothing, frilly dresses that hang off one shoulder, and a neon-glowing aura---was that too much too ask for? And the ending musical montage performance where she magically changes outfits, hair, makeup and overall attitude to suit the music genre...just brilliant.

I would love to hear from all of you...who are you picturing when you get dressed in the morning, when you get dressed for that black-tie party, or just when you daydream about that perfect wardrobe?

Comments

[Mahnaz]

Madonna - of course!

[Dad]

Easy. My personal style idol was my dad, Herb Fisher. He was head-turning handsome -- a slim six-footer, blue eyes, wavy brown hair, Cary Grant nose. And a gifted natural athlete who could play any sport. He and his brother had owned a little men's clothing store in the early 30's, but robbers who came in the night put him out of business. Still, although he never had a lot of money, he dressed with care and flair -- dark suit, white shirt, always a snap-brim hat. A kind and caring man, generous to a fault. What a guy. Trouble is, nobody thought I took after him. "You look just like your mom," they always said.

[Beth]

My idol is Kelly'd dad b/c he TOTALLY ROCKS! but as for my style icons:
Kate Moss
Sienna Miller
Jackie O
Catherine Denueve
Audrey Hepburn
Coco Chanel
Corine Roitfeld
Diana Vreeland

Kelly if you delete my comment this time, Im officially offended

[Kelly]

My Dad's getting much more love on my blog than I am...but he certainly deserves it. And Beth--it was technical difficulties that caused your entry to be erased, as you know. (My own tech-stupid brain, that is!) Your list is truly fabulous. Thanks for including Denueve--a great one I overlooked!!!

[melanie]

Grace Kelly
Marilyn Monroe
Princess Diana
Jackie O
Audrey Hepburn
Coco Chanel
Carolyn Bessette
Kate Moss
Scarlett Johannson
Sienna Miller
Sarah Jessica
Jennifer Anniston
Gwen Stefani

I don't believe any of the above mentioned need any explanations because they speak for themselves. Randomly, when I was very young I idolized Christina Applegate when she played "Kelly Bundy" on "Married With Children" this could have been for a number of reasons, but all seem to escape me now. I guess it was Lucky for me that I grew out of that very quickly and moved right on to Britney Spears in highschool. Again lucky for me I don't very often emulate her style, although at times I am tempted to pull out an old gym sock to wear on my arm-- now that is just classic! :) haha

[KiWi]

Three words: Jackie, Jackie, Jackie.
I love Audrey Hepburn but I'm (unfortunely) not an Audrey type (I'm short and um, ample).

[Julia]

(Hello, find you through Beth!)

Great post, if only we could post photos with our comments...

+ Brigitte Bardot: She is my ultimate everything but let's focus on style. I love the full dresses and the capris of the 50s, then the barefoot look which was all about her attitude and free spriit. In her autiobiography there's a photo of her leaving Maxim's in Paris wearing a gorgeous long dress, and she's barefoot. I love it. And also the hair, the makeup (that heavy black eye makeup), the pout...it just has me ga-ga.
+ Marilyn. You said it perfectly. There's the freshness, vulnerability and depth that just makes you love her. And the figure-hugging dresses - oh!
+ Audrey. My mum always said I reminded her of Audrey - the tall slim body and long neck, and really, what a compliment (although I'm nothing like her, at least as an adult). It's her grace that you just don't see anymore that touches so many people - her and Gregory Peck - no wonder Roman Holiday is so perfect. And let's be honest, we should all be in debt to Audrey if for no other reason than the LBD becoming such a much-loved staple. And for giving some of the us the confidence to wear flat shoes (yes, me!).
+ Kate Moss. Sadly she's imitated too often these days but she has so much spunk about her that I love her even more for doing her own thing. The look, including hair and makeup, is so amazing in it's nonchalance. She's original, and the best.
+ Carine Roitfeld. I just adore this woman and her look. It's so stylised and her attitude shines through. I really admire that.
+ Vanessa Paradis. I go nuts over her look - the vintage Chanel, the gap between the teeth, the haphazard way her clothes are put together. She's an 'ideal me'.
+ There's so many more...Sarah Jessica Parker...Julie Delpy...Jade Jagger...Catherine Deneuve...Sophia Loren...and the girl on the street...I guess I'm mainly touched by people who's attitude and personality shines through. It can be as simple as a pair of jeans or the way they tie their hair, but if they're true to themselves and let it shine through, I just love it.

[Tom]

my personal style icon is jack black and the guys on that show "Beauty and the Geek."

[Kelly]

Thanks for all the terrific comments everyone! Julia, Melanie and Kiwi pointed out all kinds of people I've forgotten--esp. Brigitte Bardot, Gwen Stefani, and Jackie O.

[Anna]

hmm - i've always been a fan of very classic styles so i'd say i've been particularly impacted by the following people:
reese witherspoon, classic and understated
audrey hepburn, epitomizes a classic style
grace kelly, i wish that for 1 night i could honestly say that i have attained her classiness and grace
katherine hepburn, the philadelphia story definitely comes to mind
bette davis
just generally a lot of 40s and 50s actresses...i love the cut of suits and dresses from the 40s and 50s.