Audrey Style (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Hubert de Givenchy (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 1953, When Audrey Hepburn burst onto the screen in Roman Holiday, she forever changed the international ideal of elegance, grace, and beauty. Suddenly, glamour and even sexiness seemed attainable for women everywhere; Audrey was uncommonly beautiful, but she was real--hers was a look anyone could aim for, but few could pull off as effortlessly or effectively. By mixing a few classic elements of "Audrey style"--the little black dress, ballet flats with slim capri pants, bold hats and sunglasses--suburban housewives became more Hollywood than Hoboken in an instant.

Here author Pamela Clarke Keogh introduces us to the woman behind the clothes, using words from friends, fellow actors, and designers who dressed her to paint a picture of a truly remarkable woman. A humanitarian, artist, friend, and above all, survivor, Audrey inspired women and men alike to approach life with spirit, grace, and simplicity. The nearly 100 color and black-and-white photographs, paired with original sketches from such fashion luminaries as Givenchy, Manolo Blahnik, and Vera Wang, show that Audrey was much more than a beautiful, well-dressed personality; her courage and individuality come shining through in every page. --Leah Ball

Review

"I liked her a lot; in fact, I loved Audrey. It was easy to love her." -- Gregory Peck

"In every movie I have ever watched, starting with Roman Holiday, I was in love with Audrey Hepburn. I played every part'I was Gregory Peck a long time ago! I was Bill Holden, I was Cary Grant, I was her biggest fan." -- Ralph Lauren

"The imprint of Miss Hepburn is absolutely, totally present. Like it or not, she will be the most important look of the twentieth century." -- Manolo Blahnik

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 235 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; 1st edition (April 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060193298
• ISBN-13: 978-0060193294
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #92,875 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #59 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion > Fashion Photography

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's got pretty pictures..., March 14, 2000

By	"admiralkatt" - See all my reviews

Audrey Style is a stylish, attractive coffee table book. However, it's just that: a coffee table book, best enjoyed by keeping it around (preferably on a coffee table), thumbing through the pictures every so often, and merely skimming the text in a couple of places.

The pictures, of course, are great. After all, they're pictures of Audrey Hepburn! There's an enormous amount of pictures of her at various points in her career, and most of them truly seem to capture the grace, sophistication, and effortless style inherent in Audrey (and apparently missing in the world today.)

The actual writing, though -- the "book" part -- falls short. It's a good read, and you'll learn a thing or two about Audrey, but nowhere is it genuinely insightful or analytical. The book is peppered with anecdotes that will make you think "Oh, how nice!" or "Oh, how funny!" ...but I'd like to think that there was more to Audrey than that.

Too often, the book goes for unneccessary glorification. Every so often, you'll come across a quotation such as this:

"Audrey Hepburn was really great. She was nice and beautiful and stylish and everybody wanted to be like her. There can be no one else like her." -- Someone From Hollywood

Audrey Style is adorned with this sort of fluffy adoration, and even if the praise is due, it gets a little stale after being repeated so often.

I'm also a little disappointed that a book titled "Audrey Style" is more of a biography than an analysis of her style; although the "style" part is present, I would have liked to see much more.

To sum up: it's a good book, but it isn't that profound. The pictures make it worth buying, however; buy it for the pictures, keep it on your coffee table, and be dazzled by the glory that is Audrey. Just don't expect the words to capture her essence nearly so well.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audrey has the most disarming and winning charm ever, October 16, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

The text is very original and inspiring because for the first time it describes Audrey as more than a legendary film star and a physical beauty, and focuses on her personality and her own life's philosophy that any human being can achieve. One should remember that what made her an enduring star and a legend (#3 in AFI's film legends) was her winning personality and wit. Audrey stands for the premise that what counts is the inner beauty regardless of the physical make-up that one is born with. To this effect, there are a lot of pretty faces that do not even show in the charm department. What really counts is the enduring charm that anybody can develop as a good spirited human being. In the charm department, one's effort to attain sophistication in earnest can make up for whatever the physical appearance.

The single picture that I would like to remark is on page 12: when Audrey's gorgeous energy and infectious smile are captured with a huge jump in the air.

I also recommend the book "ADIEU AUDREY". It has the best qulity pictures I have ever seen, in a thick quality paper, and in sepia tint that will satisfy to any photography buff.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book to be taken lightly, August 1, 2001

By	Julie "[e-mail]" (Eau Claire, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Some of the reviewers in this category certainly seem to have missed the title of this book: Audrey STYLE. This is the reason I bought it- to learn more about Audrey Hepburn's beautiful sense of style. Imagine my surprise at finding that it did not only discuss her fashion sense, but her wonderful personality as well! I was hoping this wouldn't be a run-of-the-mill biography, and it wasn't. Obviously if you want to read a heavy, thorough biography, this is NOT the book for you. However, if you want to read a light-hearted, stylish, and inspiring tribute to one of the greatest actresses and style icons of our time, then I highly recommend you read this book.