R.I.P Elizabeth Taylor

"My mother say's I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked ever since."

-Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor, one of Hollywoods most beloved stars, passed away Wednesday. CNN reports have stated that she was "hospitalized six weeks ago for congestive heart failure, a condition which she has struggled for many years." It is difficult to sum up a woman of her stature in a single post. She holds the record for the most appearances on the cover Life magazine. Elizabeth's magnetism was undeniable as she led her life in the public eye, but there is much more behind those violet eyes. She was a star at the age of 12 after her role in MGM's National Velvet (1944) and then went on to become one of greatest movie stars of all time, receiving Oscars for her roles in Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf  (1966). Off screen Liz was known for her love affairs, married eight times but most notable to actor Richard Burton. With all this publicity it comes as no surprise that she was one of the most photographed women in history. Due to her grace, elegance, and personal style Liz became the style icon of her generation. She admirably used her notoriety to bring awareness to a number of charitable causes, and pioneered the campaign again HIV and AIDS. Elizabeth Taylor catapulted into fame; she is a legend, and legends never die.  

On the set of Suddenly Last Summer (1959)

On the set of Suddenly Last Summer (1959)

On the set of Suddenly Last Summer (1959)

On the set of Cleopatra (1962)

"So much to do, so little done, such things to be."

-Elizabeth Taylor

Photos via Telegraph.co.uk

Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert and Melvyn Douglas from She Married Her Boss (1935)

I've had the same reoccurring dream for over a year now. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I don't find the modern (more specifically fashion) aesthetics appealing. In my dream a time machine will take me back to any decade from 1910 to 1960. Some nights I'll find myself in a jazz club during "The Fashion Revolution" and "The Birth of Style" otherwise known as the 1920's. Whereas other nights I'll be having afternoon tea in characteristically 50's dress, with a swing skirt and soft feminine touches. Basically my main point here is, i'll be posting a variety Icons and inspiration from any time period my time machine takes me.

Portraits of Claudette Colbert

I'd like to start off by mentioned the fact that, the "A-list" celebraties of today simply do not have that special quality, you know that je ne sais qoui. Classic Hollywood starlets, however had class, charm, and grace and not to mention were extremely talented. The public didn't support talentless hacks so there were expectations of them. Classic Hollywood stars had something to admire.

Émilie Claudette Chauchoin was born on September 13, 1903 in Paris, Seine, France. At age three, her family emigrated to the US and settled in New York City where she would become a US citizen. After high school, she went to the Art Students League of New York, with the intention of becoming a fashion designer. Instead she appeared on Broadway with a small role in The Wild Westcotts (1923). Soon after she started to go by her stage name "Claudette Colbert" and became a house hold name in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Claudette Colbert is notably one of the greatest film stars of all time, and "cited as a leading female exponent of screwball comedy"

Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable from It Happened One Night (1934)

Claudette Colbert was always impeccably dressed, on and off screen. In Tomorrow is Forever (1946) Jean Louis was hired to create eighteen changes of wardrobe for her, according to wikipedia. Colbert's style is best described with a quote from Jeanie Basinger in The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers: "[Her] glamour is the sort that women attain for themselves by using their intelligence to create a timeless personal style."

pictures found on Flickr.com