Grace

In thinking about how to continue our Screen Icons series, one name stood out for our next subject: Grace Kelly. She is in the upper echelon of screen icons. Like Marilyn and Audrey, Grace is a household name and influences fashion and culture to this day.

As with all of the iconic women we explore, I like to do a little research. Not only does it help me get into “character”, I just love learning about these women who have inspired me and so many others.

Grace was quite a fascinating study: She left the (strict) family home in Philadelphia to go to New York to study to be a stage actress. Her father only allowed her to go if she stayed at the famous Barbizon hotel- a place for unmarried young ladies to keep their reputations. She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked as a model to pay her own way. Grace was very independent and wanted to show her family that she could make it on her own. Soon she broke into movies and went on to win an Oscar for her performance in, The Country Girl. At age 26, she married Prince Rainier of Monaco and took on her biggest role yet: Princess. She was only 52 when she passed away, but her ebullient spirit lives on.

Did you know:
-She only made 11 films in her career? Talk about making it count!
-Her famous wedding dress was a gift from MGM studio, and designed by their costume department.
-She was a ardent supporter of the Les Leches society, helping to promote the benefits of breastfeeding.

John and I are used to managing these shoots on our own, but this time we lucked out with my best friend (and celebrity makeup artist) Emily Oliver helping us. She transformed my hair and makeup into these retro looks. Her attention to detail was incredible and she took the shoot to another level. And there are few things better than spending the day with your best friend!

Please enjoy the photos below, and feel free to leave a comment with your favorite shot or some thoughts about Grace!