Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Remembering Audrey

Remembering Audrey HERE

Every year around this time I especially remember Audrey Hepburn. Her birthday is on January 20.

Audrey Hepburn with Bob Willoughby 1958


Bob Willoughby was a photographer to the stars, and he took many wonderful photographs of her.

Audrey Hepburn with Bob Willoughby in 1963


I can never look at too many photos of her. "Audrey 100" is a book that Audrey's family has compiled with 100 stunning images. Paying strict attention to aesthetic beauty, artistic expression, and personal significance, they have lovingly selected these photographs to represent the qualities Hepburn herself stood for throughout her life and career.

Audrey 100 HERE

I collect images over the year, that I hope to use for my annual Audrey birthday post. I always seem to find a couple I haven't seen.

Richard Avedon took this photo of Audrey Hepburn


I especially love to see "at home" photos. There are a few of Audrey Hepburn's homes in the earlier years of her career.


Architectural Digest used one from the 1950's for a cover in 2006. Does anyone have this issue? Are there more photos of her home inside? I didn't find much on the AD web site.


The house photographed is the Beverly Hills home she shared with then husband Mel Ferrer in the 1950's has all the trendy trappings of the day.

Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer at home in the 1950's


Audrey was an animal lover and kept a pet fawn in her home for awhile in the 1950's.

Smoking and a boomerang print on the couch were en vogue in the 1950's


Mel and Audrey also had a Malibu home.



Audrey playing ping pong at home

Malibu home of Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer

Why do so many of us girls love Audrey? As a young girl about town in New York, I of course fancied myself as my own version of Holly Golightly. And of course Audrey was so elegant, so funny, so chic. Later she became a role model for all her charitable work for UNICEF. What girl didn't love her?

One of my treasured possessions is my own personal photo of Audrey. She's posing with my a dearest friend. They are at the Museum of Modern Art. There was a party for Audrey honoring her films that night. I did the flower arrangements for that party.

I was longing to see her, just a glimpse of her. My friend loved her even more than I did. And then there he was with her!

He worked at MOMA and secured an invitation that night. He waved me over, and whispered "get a camera".

This was in the days way before cell phones, much a less cell phone camera, and it was pre-blog days where we have acquired the habit of photo documenting everything to the point of numbness.

I didn't even photograph my own work that night, I didn't even own a camera! But I did as I was told, and found a a man with a camera, and brought him over to my friend, who was still standing next to Audrey!

He said, "Miss Hepburn this is my dearest friend Valorie Hart, and she arranged the bouquets on the tables tonight".

"Lovely," she said, "Everything is so pretty and perfect and my favorite color. How did you know my favorite color?"

I told her she was too kind, and asked if I might have a photo of her with my friend.

They both passed away.
And I am an old lady with a faded photo and great memories.

My photo of Audrey Hepburn with my dearest friend

19 comments:

  1. Oh Valorie...yet another fabulous tale from your extraordinary life. What a great memory, great thing about memories they can never be taken away!
    loves....

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  2. Audrey Hepburn was a lady. Grace. Dignity. Decorum. Modesty. No tattoos, no cleavage. My fashion rule: if Hepburn, Jackie, or Babe Paley would not be caught dead wearing it-neither will I-

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  3. This is one of those stories for the memory bank indeed. I dare say I might have fainted @ her feet. I am in awe. I adored her.

    Thanks for sharing your photo and your experience sweet Valorie.

    xx

    P.S. - I loved what Betsy wrote!

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  4. Betsy, well said. I can't add anything more other than to say Valerie how lucky you were to have met Audrey. What a classic woman in all respects.

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  5. The story is as beautiful as Audrey Hepburn was. They don't make them like they used to -- actors or musicians. She was always a favorite (and Princess Grace).

    Thank you for sharing.

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  6. What a lovely story- and such a classy lady. Whatever happened to this world?

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  7. Valorie, what sweet memories and such a wonderful story! Thank you for this remembrance post! I love her very much, adore her style and her natural beauty!
    I am sure this has a very special place in your heart!

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  8. Wow, what an awesome story and so amazing that you have that beautiful photo!!

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  9. She had a fawn living at her home in preparation for a movie role so that the fawn would act more believable in the movie when it was suppose to follow her character around.

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  10. They don't make celebrity women like this anymore... sad... LOVELY posting!

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  11. Valorie,
    I, as so many do, adore Audrey Hepburn...but now I will think of her kindness to you and your friend and the picture that you cherish. Aren't those the most important things in life?! Treasured memories.

    xo Elizabeth

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  12. What a lovely story and happy memory
    thankyou
    I love the Avedon photograph and dress ! fay xx

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  13. Valorie she was the kind of lady we aspire to be. Smart fun classy talented, unique, giving.

    You have wonderful memories to hold and you are a beautiful, young always woman!!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  14. I was with a photographer today and he has that AD magazine in his office...and I loved it...
    love your stories and all the exuberance you bring....
    great photo and memories.
    pve

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  15. ...i believe audrey was born on may 4th...and died on january 20th...however...she was truly the perfection of the word lovely...

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  16. I would have love to have met her. Legend. Icon.
    Thank you for a lovely post.

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  17. I think Audrey Hepburn has set the bar so high as "THE LEGENDARY FASHION ICON", THE ONE'S WHO PRIDE OOURSELVES AS A FASHION TRAILBLAZER/ENTHUSIAST ANYWAY!!! THEIRS BEEN MANY TRY TO REPRODUCE HER LIKENESS-WITH SOME HAVING GREAT STYLIST BACKING THEM. ALTHOUGH THEIRS BEEN SOME EPIC FAILURES. LET'S FACE IT SHE'S A HARD REPRODUCTION, & "ONE OF HER KIND" ONLY ONCE IN A LIFETIME COMES ALONG SUCH DECADENCE OF BEAUTY-STYLE-&-GRACE......
    -jlynn_d 4.17.2014

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  18. I must also add what a great collection of photos hope to return..now I know you exist I have you bookmarked!!
    -jlynn_d 4.17.2014

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