There is a reason why they were called stars. There was a time when movie stars were bigger than life. Their presence was so powerful, their films transcended the moment of their making, they were quintessentially glamorous, on-screen and off. Classic films and silver screen legends are no strangers on this blog, but what prompted me to bring this into discussion was a recent blog post of Garance Doré’s.
She wrote about the recently released book Audrey in Rome
The terms star or style icon shouldn’t even be used anymore in their classical sense. Stars were seen as heroes, they made people dream, they even inspired a kind of divinity, a type of religion. Their films helped people go through trying historical times, their style changed fashion and, in some way, all those women stars contributed to the emancipation of women. The world changed with their films, with their far-reaching and enduring style. They were beautiful, glamorous, daring, unconventional. Their style and glamour were consistent and that was inspiring for women, even if they could never quite replicate it. The booming film industry may have made them stars and the costume designers and couturiers may have helped them shape their personal style, but it took something a little more than that to become an icon, a living legend.
Nowadays so-called celebrities are decreasingly divine. Movie stars were the antithesis of today’s Hollywood actress or fashion victim icon, who is eager to be seen and is eager to be seen as an every woman. And this is not only because of the Internet and because of the amount of information we have access to in almost no-time. Yes, it’s true that there is no longer the indispensable dose of mystery needed to nurture a myth.
But that’s not the only reason why we will never find out if Marilyn really slept naked with just two drops of Chanel No.5 or why we won’t see pictures of Grace Kelly in sweatpants and with her hair messed up while running errands. It was about keeping things private. It was about following their own unique and daring fashion vision. It was about respecting themselves and the others by paying attention to the way they looked before leaving the house. It was about their own values and different lifestyle principles. An aura of being unreachable helps someone become an icon, but it’s not enough in itself.
There are plenty of photos of Marilyn and Grace and Audrey and Ava dressed casually too, even in beach- or sportswear. But style never leaves them, whereas actresses today are easily declassed by what they wear off-screen. But I think this only reflects the times we live in. Maybe it’s nor bad nor good. Maybe I am an old-school idealist who regrets how real values are betrayed, seeing how compromise has become a norm in any given aspect of life. People are of less quality, of fewer standards morally, socially and intellectually. I think the whole film industry reflects that. And I think my blog is my own way of rebelling against it.
photos: 1-Lisa Larsen/Time Life Pictures (Grace Kelly, New York, smiling at the photographers)/ 2-© Interfoto/Archivi Alinari (Marilyn Monroe, 1950) / 3-Elio Sorci © Camera Press / Photomasi (Audrey Hepburn, Rome, 1968) / 4-source unknown (Grace Kelly, 1954) / 5-John Kobal Foundation (Marilyn Monroe on the set of “Clash by Night”, 1952) / 6-© Hulton Archive via Vanity Fair (Ava Gardner, 1940s)
Before it was about style and talent – these days it’s all about wearing an “it” item and being popular. When I see the ladies above, I feel inspired. When I look at celebrities now, I just feel very empty (and a little bit like a fool for being force-fed with their faux glamour).
xxx
” People are of less quality, of fewer standards morally, socially and intellectually.”
This is exactly how I feel, sometimes, it’s like I’ve been born in the wrong era. I love books about style, about how men were dressing before (not for special occasions, but they wore almost daily a suit), books about how to lay a table and not just eat from the container the food is warmed in…books about style in general, about the beauty of life and the QUALITY of it. The fast-paced environment nowadays lets us forget this slowly. We grab an item of clothes out of the wardrobe, eat at fast food joints, hurry hurry without thinking too much about the trace we leave behind.
I miss those old times, although I have never lived in them,…but just seeing pictures of my family from back then makes me think that we are doing something wrong.
And your blog, dear Ada, is the true definition of style and staying true to yourself, to your beliefs, offering something beautiful to the readers without exposing yourself.
Keep up the good work!
We are definitely doing something wrong now. Thank you for your kind words, Ingrid.
I love this post! I think it is true – they don’t make them like they used to. I recently went to see Julie Andrews speak – perhaps one of the last true movie stars – and I was struck by just how much like she was on screen. Admittedly, her talk was a performance, in a sense, but some things just can’t be put on – grace and poise, and a fabulously refined sense of classic style.
Hi sweets, I totally agree – I adore the movie stars of the past, the aura and the sheer sense of mystery and glamour that surrounded them. Romantic in a way. Today is far more crass, harsh and as Natalia said, about wearing an IT item. Making us want to purchase it. So they are doing their job right, but what do we covet now a days? The stars or what they wear?? Great post love, have a great day,
Axx
What a lovely post Ada! Couldn’t agree more with your thoughts… Mystery has long gone from the world – and quality is less valued over quantity unfortunately. Manners, etiquette, modesty, mystery… all slipping to the back of the queue (or mind) these days. I think we all dreaming of a time long gone:)… Helenxx
There’s just no one like a Grace or Audrey or Marilyn. 🙂
I have been thinking about this post all day! The images you share are beautiful and represent the style on your blog very well.
We indeed live in a very different world and I have been thinking how these legends of the past would have coped with today’s social media. As much as I enjoy viewing photos and reading about these legends there is always this notion in the back of my mind that these people were also human. They simply weren’t as accessible as the celebrities of our time.
I have no problems with seeing a celebrity photographed in sweatpants but what annoys the core of my being is how easy it is to become famous. You don’t really have to accomplish anything or have any special skills. You only need your 15 minutes of fame and wearing labels and all of a sudden you are in all magazines … with maybe no values and nothing really to contribute to the world. That is what really bothers me.
Keep on rebelling!
Lisa, of course they were also human. My post was not meant to be an ode to classic movie stars and I don’t worship them, as much as I love classic cinema. The social media is what I have a big problem with. It’s not only actresses and actors who have become so accessible, but every single human being on this planet. I don’t know how the stars back then would have coped with this phenomenon, because as I said, those were different times, but I can’t help but wonder what it is that makes us feel the need to crave so much attention in every little thing that we do. It’s again the lack of values that has become to define our society. And yes, maybe seeing a celebrity in sweatpants walking her dog is not what bothers me so much, but the fact that I’m fed with such an insignificant thing. And that that celebrity becomes a role model for children just because she has her 15 minutes of stardom and appears on the cover of a magazine in designer clothes. The real stars back then truly represented an ideal, even if it was only in terms of style. That was the ideal then and this is the ideal now. That is the problem.
“but the fact that I’m fed with such an insignificant thing” … I’m so with you!
a friend of mine is related to hollywood royalty. i never met this person, who is now passed on, but my friend would tell me that even when her grandmother was mostly bed-ridden she was never without jewels and make-up and beautiful bed clothes. (she would also chastise her for dressing causally. “did you really wear that on the plane?”) it was certainly a part of an era. i miss it too but i can imagine if i were a star (which i’m so glad i am not!) it would be so much pressure to be on in the ways that these starlettes were. and i have to admit secretly like seeing “stars” looking “normal.” but i also think these times you speak of is what makes me love old movies. and i could agree more about films having more of a cultural impact during difficult times. now we just have movies upon movies upon movie (at least in the states). great post!
Christine, the thing is that not only movie stars dressed better, people in general dressed better too. It may have been a pressure for actresses to look their best any given time, but what i wanted to point out was that back then it was about the quality of life. We’ve lost our sense of privacy and our strong values and I am not ok with that. Times have changed, fashion has changed, I don’t say I would like to dress in Dior-like dresses (in fact that look has never been among my favourites), I feel stylish enough in blue jeans and white tee. It’s about the way you choose to live your life. And I stick to my opinion that you have to do yourself up a little before you leave the house.
oh i agree with that (especially the privacy)! my rule of thumb is don’t leave the house wearing/looking like you feel like you would be embarrassed to run into someone you know 😉
Well, the superstars of the last century were full of mistery,sophistication and refinement. Nowadays I really miss their subtlety, which is mostly absent from the spotlights. So, I reccomend you this page with lots of elegant and feminine accessories:
https://www.facebook.com/MissDiCreations
I really agree with everything you say here. As an aspiring filmmaker & actress, I always wanted to be in movies like All About Eve, To Have and Have Not, and La Notte. But it’s a sad world because people just don’t make movies that way anymore. There’s too much in movies today: too much realism, too much show – our movie industry doesn’t foster dreams in the way it used to. Part of that is good, though – it means that more filmmakers can do things and not be tied to a studio like MGM, which dictates every move. But I hate the free-for-all of the movie industry today. People don’t curate, they don’t study, they don’t create an image in the way that the filmmakers of the 30s, or the 60s used to. The craft – and the imagination that goes with it – is lost in that way. Thanks once again for your insights!
I read the post of Garance and liked the way she changed hers and Scott’s opinion about Audrey. About the times that went by 😉 and the stars who used to be something ideal, I think they were living a totally different era, a time when intimacy was much more appreciated. I assume the speed with which we receive today all the information we need is also a reason for this, the internet has its disadvantages. People who do not appreciate the attention in their real world ask for virtual attention, at least this is my opinion and it is very sad. I also think that all this networking success is based on the narcissistic seed and somehow inexplicable curiosity and some people are making money out of it.
Brilliant post, Ada! If you are an old-school idealist, I am right along with you. Style, class, elegance, decorum, presentation, image and grace have gone out the window with today’s movie “stars”. And it doesn’t only apply to women. I think your observation that this is a reflection of the society in general is very apt. I cringe but admit to running to the shops in sweats. However, my dear Mum wouldn’t dream of going even to the corner shop without a fully coordinated outfit, jewelry, sunglasses and handbag and make up. That’s how she grew up, that’s how life was and the movie stars helped set those examples. An air of mystery, allure and panache were part of caring about one’s appearance and respecting oneself.
G
Not anymore Ada,
Everything now a days has lost magic. All these ladies you have posted here had something amazing in common Personalities of their own. Unfortunately now it’s all about “any press is good press” People don’t have minds of themselves anymore, they like what others like, they want what others want, they say what others say. It’s really sad.
Dear Ada, I think that this is one of the best posts I’ve read on Classiq. You always stay true to yourself – in the movie you review, in the fashion editorials, in the photo you choose – and I really admire this quality. I agree with many of the things you wrote here and I’m also with Lisa in the sense that to me the most depressing thing is the fact that nowadays everybody is an ‘icon’ or a ‘star’ or whatever…and this by definition diminishes the ‘aura’, but also the standards that we use in the cinema world, but also in fashion, and with this we risk an over-simplification of everything we see.
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