Grace Kelly

Beauty. Elegance. Words that can only describe one of the most photographed women in the 20th century. She had style. She had class. She symbolised this classic dress on and off screen.
Grace Kelly was born the 12th of November, 1929 in Philadelphia. She began travelling to Europe in 1947. A year later she entered the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. In 1949, Kelly had been working as a model. She made her debut on Broadway in The Father at Cort Theatre in New York. Her first television role was in Bethel Merriday in 1950. She had also signed a seven-year contract with MGM. From 1951 to 1956, Kelly had made a total of eleven films with the studio. Having Alfred Hitchcock, a British director, cast her unlocked her potential as a fashion icon. She was now able to play sophisticated and sensual female characters; the fact that she had previously been a model, aided in her abilities also. On and off screen Grace Kelly had a knack for style. She wore pieces such as shirt waist dresses and casual shirts and trousers. Not to mention the elegant gowns she frequented for special occasions. Her look was coined “The Grace Kelly Look” by retailers, while fans followed her style and grooming fashion.
May of 1955, while off in the south of France for the Cannes Film Festival Kelly met Prince Rainer III of Monaco. With a brief courtship, the couple was married the following year. Grace Kelly had often played upper class and royal characters on screen, but this was a new experience. After marriage, Grace Kelly gave up her career in acting. The last film she was featured in was of her wedding which was produced by MGM. Monaco law required a civil and religious ceremony; both conducted in perfect scrutiny of detail. Grace Kelly had completed her transformation from a fairytale princess into a real one.
Princess Grace took her role seriously. She was devoted to her new life and focused primarily on her family and charitable causes. She understood the need for clothes that were appropriate for her new position. She frequented the couture houses of Paris and became associated with the fashionable House of Christian Dior.
In 1957, the couple had their first child, Princess Caroline. Princess Grace had even visited Pope Pius XII. A year later her son, Prince Albert was born and she became the President of the Monaco Red Cross. Her love for charity reigned on especially in 1963 when she became the founding president of the Association Mondiale des Amis de L’Enfance. Two years later Princess Stephanie was born and so was the Princess Grace Foundation. In 1968, Grace took part in London-Birmingham Road Race. With her husband, she also inaugurated the Garden Club of Monaco.
By the seventies, Grace’s fashion had slightly changed, only enough to be in style, but keep her elegance. The International Festival of the Arts Gala at Royal Festival Hall was launched by her and Lord Mountbatten. In 1974, Prince Rainer III had his 25th Jubilee. Grace did not fail to attend the homage to Alfred Hitchcock in New York’s Lincoln Centre the simultaneous year. She then joined the board of 20th century Fox and performed her poetry reading at Edinburgh Festival in 1976. The following year she appeared as a narrator in The Children of Theatre Street. She participated in the Aldeburgh Festival in the United Kingdom. Soon after, she began her poetry reading tour around the United States. In 1979, she made a short film for International Bouquet Competition. A year later My Book of Flowers was published in the United States. Kelly continued her poetry reading well into 1981, at Chichester Festival. Princess Grace and Prince Rainer III had also celebrated their 25th anniversary that year. In 1982, Princess Grace was in a fatal car accident. She died the 14th of September at the age of 53.
Grace Kelly will always be remembered as a fashion icon. She had a classic sex appeal that many wish they could have today. She is remembered highly and admired deeply, even today. Books are published about her and people feel obligated to study her films. Grace Kelly – classic elegance that will never be forgotten.



“Our life dictates a certain kind of wardrobe. I think it is important to see the person first and the clothes afterwards.” – Grace Kelly

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/gracekelly/exhibition/chronology/index.html

"I try to be Like Grace Kelly." - Grace Kelly by Mika