art · life curation

The Dark Side of the Art World

As an art fanatic and insatiable autodidact, I stay on the lookout for interesting resources for learning more about the art world. My current favorite e-learning website, Future Learn, has yet another great course related to art. This time, the course dives into the dark side of the art world. Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime “delve[s] into the seedy underbelly of the art world, looking at smuggling, theft, fakes, and fraud […]”.

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I don’t know about you, but this course sounds like it will be great for indulging my inner spy! So yes, I’ll be doing this course. Depending on how quickly I go through the materials, I may explore another Future Learn course before the end of summer. For now, though, I’m going to concentrate on this course.

Thinking about art crime, I remember watching a cute Audrey Hepburn movie years ago, about an art forger that was on the brink of getting caught. I can’t remember all of the details of the movie, but I may watch it again to refresh my memory. The movie is How to Steal a Million, and it’s starring Audrey Hepburn (as mentioned previously) and Peter O’Toole. From what I recall, it was a light and cute comedy, so you may want to check it out.

Anyhoo, that’s it for today. I’ve got some running around to do today but I’ll be back tomorrow. Ciao!

 

hollywood glamour · luxury

Baubles, Hollywood Style Part Deux

Not too long ago, I mentioned the Hollywood Collection, a company that recreates jewelry worn by the stars of yesterday, in a Hollywood Glamour post. Today, I’m excited to share with you all yet another company that does spectacular jewelry that is inspired by classic Hollywood actresses.

Filthy Rich has their own “Hollywood Collection“, complete with replicas of jewelry worn by stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow. This company doesn’t just limit it offerings to jewelry styled after the ones worn by Hollywood’s finest: they also has recreations of jewelry owned by Jacqueline Kennedy and Kate Middleton. Here are a few of my favorites from the site:

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Audrey Hepburn Roman Holiday earrings

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Kate Middleton Royal Engagement Ring

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Jacqueline Kennedy Gold Bracelet Watch

They have some other glamorous options for anyone interested in adding some Hollywood to their wardrobe. I love that these pieces are not only beautiful but very affordable, too: the prices average less than $50 each. So reasonably priced, so chic!

hollywood glamour · style

How to Dress Like Audrey Hepburn

A few months ago, Christie’s had an enormous Audrey Hepburn memorabilia auction. In fact, I wrote about it during the early days of this blog. The auction featured over 300 items personally owned by Audrey. Given Audrey’s immense popularity, it should be no surprise that the auction generated nearly $6.5 million in sales (4.6 million GBP).

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Photo as shown on Christie’s

If you, like me, weren’t one of the lucky auction winners, take heart. Audrey was a woman of classic taste and many of clothing items sold can be easily duplicated. Here, I’ll share some of the items featured in the auction, as well as my recommendations for recreating the look.

By the way, you may notice that the items aren’t the signature pieces from her films but, rather, her own personal, off-screen wardrobe (with lots of pieces from her later years). I actually like the fact that the pieces are “everyday” chic, because they don’t come across as “costume-y”. But remember, these are Audrey’s clothes: even her “everyday” items are much more stylish than what most people wear.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite items from the auction as well as items to recreate the look. I found pieces on Boohoo and Amazon, which aren’t expensive but allows you to try a look at a low price. Enjoy!

A Black Silk Crepe Tuxedo and Associated Ivory Wool Crepe Trousers

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Get the look:

Rhea Boutique Double Breasted Tailored Tux Blazer

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This double breasted tux has the same satin lapels but it’s a fraction of the cost of the original jacket. The hem is a little below the hip bone, so it feels more relaxed than formal.

Adana Tie Waist Tailored Slim Fit Trouser

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While the trousers owned by Audrey probably had a less ornate waist, I prefer the less-expensive option. The tie waist adds visual interest when the tuxedo jacket is open or removed. The design of the legs of both trousers are very similar.

 

An Ivory Silk Shirt and Black Silk Skirt

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Get the look:

Molly Tailored Shirt

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This fitted blouse looks great with skirts and pants, and easily goes from the workplace to after hours events. To maximize the Audrey look, wear this with as few accessories as possible.

Savannah Chiffon Pleated Midi Skirt

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Unless you’re extremely thin and a little bit tall (like Audrey), a midi length is more flattering. The flowing design of this pleated dress echoes the movement of the original skirt. However, the texture created by the pleats keeps this skirt from feeling too visually “heavy”.

 

An Oatmeal Wool Trench Coat

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Get the look (click on the image to link to the coat):

This coat has a beautifully detailed shoulder and a charming collar. This could easily mimic the original by replacing the fasteners with oatmeal-colored buttons.

 

A White Cotton Blouse and Matching Skirt

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Get the look:

Elizabeth Boutique Ruffle Tuxedo Shirt

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The detailing along the button placket makes this a good choice for replicating Audrey’s white top. The additional ruffles on the top echo the subtle ruffles on the skirt of the original ensemble. Just remove the black tie and you’re set!

Tall Emily Boutique Tulle Mesh Midi Skirt

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This midi skirt is made for tall girls, which makes it long enough to be an almost-maxi on women of average height. Audrey’s skirt isn’t tulle but it is flowy and a touch longer than midi-length. The simplicity of the skirt works well with the textured top.

words of wisdom

Words of Wisdom: Audrey Hepburn

I first discovered Audrey Hepburn late one night, while watching American Movie Classics (AMC). The channel was airing “My Fair Lady” and I was immediately hooked when I heard the singing and recognized the fairy tale-esque plot. Linguistics Professor Henry Higgins has bet his friend, Colonel Pickering, that a common flower seller can be coached to the point of passing off as a princess.

Enter flower girl Eliza Dolittle (played by Audrey Hepburn). She charms from the first moment she appears on the screen.

And from that day to this one, I’ve been one of Audrey’s biggest fans.

I loved her even more when I realized that her beauty and skilled acting were nothing in comparison to her wisdom, kindness, and humanitarian spirit. Here are some of my favorite Audrey Hepburn quotes and photos. Enjoy! And, if you have a great Audrey Hepburn memory you’d like to share, feel free to post it in the comments below!

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(photos courtesy of Reductress, Pinterest, Machcdn, CultureStreet and QuoteAddicts)

luxury

Christie’s to Auction Audrey Hepburn Memorabilia

Vintage cinema fans, time to rejoice! Christie’s (the prestigious auction house) will be auctioning off clothing and personal items owned by Audrey Hepburn. The bids are estimated to start as low as $130 for some items, while other items are expected to fetch over $100,000.

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(image courtesy of Movie Gazette Online)

 

The auction will occur both live and online. The live auction will occur on September 27, 2017, at 8 King Street, St. James’s, in London. The online auction will start on September 19 and end on October 3, 2017.

If you want to see the collection before the auction, you can visit the exhibition while it tours. The tours are as follows (information courtesy of the Christie’s website):

Tour dates

Hong Kong
Viewing Dates: 1 – 8 September
The LANDMARK Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

Los Angeles
Viewing dates: 11 – 14 September
Christie’s LA, 336 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The auction catalog can also be purchased for $25: Audrey Hepburn Collection Auction Catalog.

I enjoyed reading Christie’s touching biography of Audrey. You can check it out here.

I plan on checking out the online auction and seeing if I can find something that I simply must have. Do any of you plan to attend the touring exhibition, or the live auction? Or are you planning on purchasing an item via the online auction? Please let me know in the comments!