by Jessica Harmon
The
fashion icon; where would the world be without that individual? Designers
create, and boutiques sell. But who inspires us to buy? Every now and
then, a shining star comes along, and one whose presence is so powerful that
we are drawn to him or her like moths to a flame. We want to look like her,
talk like her, live like her, but most importantly, we want to dress like
her. Over the years, there have been far too many to mention, however, I
want to take a few moments to focus on a few of the brighter lights that
have shone.
“I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing”. -Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a
rare gem, a perfect picture of style, grace and compassion and I can think
of no other human soul exuding more class than she. Audrey was an icon not
only for fashion, but for life. Though her time in the spotlight occurred
over half a century ago, her timeless style is still mimicked in today’s
fashion. Coco Chanel may have invented the “little black dress,” but Audrey
breathed life into it. In the realm of casual sportswear, do not think for
a moment that you would have ever stepped into a pair of slim, cropped pants
had it not been for the doe-eyed starlet. For 2010, start your wardrobe off
right with a pair of slim-fitting Cuffed Stripe Pants from Gucci. The slim
silhouette and cropped leg is v
ery reminiscent of a
young Audrey Hepburn, and the pants would probably hang in her
closet if she were a young starlet today. For a more literal translation
of her classic black choice, La Via 18 has a darling pair of Stretch Sateen
Capris in a luxurious Italian cotton blend, and as for the Audrey-inspired
“little black dress,” David Meister presents a divine Asymmetric-Trim
Cocktail Dress. With the classic slim silhouette, this fitted sheath dress
adds a few modern details to an elegant front embellishment and the
delicate, asymmetrical ruffle at the waist. This dress is the very
definition of elegant style, just like Audrey.
“All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren’t” - Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was the original sex symbol. She was glamorous and
seductive, yet somehow she possessed a touch of innocence that made men want
to be with her, and today they still want to be want to be with the long
deceased icon. A “candle in the wind,” the shining star that was Marilyn
Monroe came to a tragic end in August 1962 and even though fifty years have
passed since her death, the blonde bombshell still brings great inspiration
to us. Marilyn is the reason we all dream of having an hourglass figure, so
we can display a low-cut halter gown covered in sequins. This year, invoke
the
spirit
of Ms. Monroe with some sex appeal and sparkle. Herve Leger presents his
famous bandage dress in All Over Sequins and the shining, body-hugging piece
in edgy gunmetal provides a modern interpretation of Marilyn. With ribbed
banding at the bust, this amazing dress would have accentuated her famous
curves wonderfully however, one need not be the former Norma Jean to look
amazing in this sparkling creation. Another incredible piece that was more
obviously inspired by Marilyn is the Meridian Mini Dress by Sunner. In a
divine Ivory, this mini dress is a shorter version of the famous frock worn
in “The Seven Year Itch”. Styled with a low-cut halter neck and charmeuse
banding at the waist, the only thing that is missing is the sunburst
pleats. In the area of glamour, it would be difficult to find a dress
that was not inspired by this beautiful icon at one point or another, but
Herve Leger and Sunner provide great starting points.
“I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art.” – Madonna
Madonna has delivered great music and delightfully shocking performances for nearly thirty years and although she is still going strong today, it is the young Madonna of the eighties that had such an amazing impact on fashion. Never did a white tulle dress, black bra and lace gloves look so good. The young and rebellious pop sensation inspired a sexy, punk look that is still incorporated into fashion today. If you want to channel the “Material Girl,” but in a more sophisticated fashion, then Alice + Olivia has a perfect Ballerina Strapless Dress with Belt. The sweetly seductive black lace contrasts amazingly with a mini skirt of pale pink that is pleated wonderfully at the waist. Simply add a few strands of pearls to complete this Madonna-sophisticate look. Another delightful and surprising piece can be found for an incredible price at Forever 21. The Satin Trim Dotted Skirt features tiers of black and taupe dotted fabric with a wide, knit waistband. The darling mini paired with a sexy black top and some chain necklaces would be perfect for any Madonna fan. For those of you in search of the bold and fierce, go ahead and add some lace gloves to the ensemble.
“I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet.” - Carrie Bradshaw
In
the age of technology, a person does not need to be real to influence real
lives. In the late 90’s and during the first few years of this century,
Carrie Bradshaw had millions of fashion forward young women drooling over
through the first few years of this century, Carrie Bradshaw had millions of
fashion forward young woman drooling over Manolo’s and Mr. Big. With a
closet full of Chanel, Dior and Jimmy Choo, the life of Carrie Bradshaw may
not have been attainable for most, but that only made it that much more
appealing. Fortunately, one does not need a six figure salary to have a
Carrie-inspired wardrobe, because the famous stilettos, Shi by Journeys
has a wide array of Carrie-like heels and the Women’s Zigi Soho Ruby
features a unique ankle cuff with delicate stud accents and open toe for
only $49.99. The towering 4.5 inch heel is just the sort of thing that
Carrie would need to reach the lips of her Prince Charming. You have the
shoes, so be inspired by her clothing as well, a mini dress covered in
sequins and if you can afford to, add a Chanel necklace to your wardrobe.
The possibilities are endless and your money weill be well spent.
As was mentioned at the beginning, there are dozens, or perhaps hundreds of other icons worth considering, but find someone whose passions and sense of style you share and which inspires you. Who knows, you may even begin to feel like an icon yourself.
January 2010
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Previous fashion columns by Jessica Harmon -The Bicycle Is Always In Fashion click here
How To Be a Holiday Fashionista click here
Jessica Harmon is a freelance writer and
recent fashion design graduate living in Tampa, FL. Having just completed
her Associate degree, she is currently working on her very first
collection. Jessica also writes runway reviews with a creative twist. Take
a look at some of her articles at
http://www.examiner.com/x-21036-Tampa-Runway-Fashion-Examiner.
