COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 139.
Adored by many around the world, and also known
as Alfred Hitchcock’s muse, Grace Kelly has been the
inspiration behind Mika’s song, Valentino’s wedding
gowns and Hermès’ formerly known sac à dépêches,
which was redesigned and now goes by the name
of Kelly bag. Her talent, kindness, and beauty made
her an icon of style worldwide. And even after her
death, Kelly’s legacy as a fashion icon lived on.
Born in Philadelphia in 1929, Grace desired to
become an actress since an early age. Her parents
did not approve of her pursuing that dream, but
still, after graduating from high school in 1947, she
headed to the city where she believed dreams came
true: New York.
Her blue eyes, red lips and skin
like poured cream did not go
unnoticed and so she started
working as a model.
Grace’s debut on Broadway was in 1949. However,
she was not fully content with the work in New
York and moved to Southern California searching
for a more prestigious part of acting - motion
pictures. After a few roles, her work with director
Alfred Hitchcock, which began with Dial M for
Murder (1954) made her a star.
From that moment on, and because the director
loved the contrast between cold charm and intense
sensuality that Grace Kelly radiated, she became
Hitchcock’s muse during two more films: Rear
Window (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955).
Her acting career was at the height of glory and
on March 30, 1955, at The 27th Annual Academy
Awards, Grace Kelly won the Best Actress Oscar for
The Country Girl (1954).
It was not only her talent in acting that allowed
her to win the hearts of millions of fans, though.
Grace Kelly had a polite posture and a smiling face.
Her trademark was her calm, cool and collected
demeanor. Her beauty was undeniable and her
blond hair, often coiffed in a bun, became a symbol
of her style. Grace had all the qualities of an iconic
star: a naïve stance sustained by her white gloves,
an elegant attitude, and a passionate charisma.
In April 1955, during the Cannes Film Festival,
Grace Kelly was invited to participate in a photo
shoot at the Palace of Monaco with Prince
Rainier III, the sovereign of the principality, and
the man who would eventually steal her heart.
Coincidentally, after returning to America, she
began to work on her next movie, The Swan, in
which she would portray a princess.
At the age of 26, Grace Kelly was one of Hollywood’s
golden girls and an elegant style icon who was
invited by brands to feature their exceptional pearl
and diamond jewelry, as well as haute couture
clothing. Renowned Hollywood costume designers
like Helen Rose and Edith Head were captivated
by Grace’s rare beauty and had her featuring their
dresses. Grace’s stunning self-possession propelled
her onto the Best-Dressed List and she even was
inaugurated into the International Best Dressed
List Hall of Fame in 1960.
During her marriage, Grace Kelly could not continue
her acting career. Instead, she decided to perform
her daily duties as princess and became involved in
philanthropic work. Despite her separation from
the movie industry, she was awarded a Star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6329 Hollywood
Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8,
1960.
On September 14, 1982, Princess Grace Kelly died
after a tragic car crash as she was driving from her
country home to the Palace of Monaco.
But even after her death, Grace’s legacy as a fashion
icon lived on. Modern designers, such as Tommy
Hilfiger and Zac Posen, have admitted looking up
to the princess and find in her fashion inspiration.
Grace Kelly was known for introducing the “fresh
faced” look, one that involved bright skin and
natural beauty with little makeup and that is the
image we all keep from her: an elegant, simple
beautiful woman.
