Katherine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen Exhibit

This past Saturday I attended the Katharine Hepburn: Dressed Stage and Screen Exhibit located at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. The event was free of charge and it's last day will be January 12th, so I really wanted to make sure that I made it to special exhibit.

When I think of Katherine Hepburn I do not imagine her being a fashionista but boy was I wrong! I learned that she really knew what would look good on her and she was vocal about it to those who designed her costumes for her films. She became particularly close to one designer during her later years of acting named Noel Taylor who would call her his best friend. They collaborated on many films together. She even purchased many of her pieces that he made.

Hepburn was an outstanding actress, no one can deny that. I didn't know that she had a massive career on stage as well as off. I have learned that the key to owning ones look and looking ones best is to really know what looks best on you. To know what colors and shades make you look extra beautiful, to know what cuts and styles as well as materials that will flaunt your figure best. I noticed that both Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly had very simple personal styles, and now I see that Hepburn did as well. Hepburn claimed that if an actress was smart she would find the best designers for her wardrobe. After viewing this exhibit I believe that Hepburn was correct. For whatever role you play, mother, vintage goddess, business woman, or artist-dressing the part and dressing at what looks best on you will only add to the role you play in your life or on screen!

Getting to the exhibit-it was so pretty there. Lincoln Center has their fountain up and working and a Christmas tree out as well. It was very nice!

Just about to enter the exhibit! Oh and I tried on the Marilyn Monroe nail polish I won from Dividing Vintage Moments-it was beautiful and dried super fast-which is a must for a busy mama!

These three costumes were from The Philadelphia Story-the play from 1939. I love this one in particular-the colors were amazing. Please excuse some of my photos. I do not have a professional camera and I had to take the pictures without the flash just in case someone complained LOL

Omg this dress was amazing to see-I think my favorite because the multicolored panels of silk organza. It was used on stage for Without Love in 1942. The designer, Valentina Schlee, created a dress with the bodice and sleeves draped to enhance Hepburn's figure. I seriously doubt her waist changed much through the years, lucky dame!

The dress to the left was Hepburn first piece that she purchased for her own personal collection. It was designed by Walter Plunkett for the film The Little Minister (1934). It had a silk crepe blouse, velvet belt, and china silk and silk twill skirt. The second dress was from the stage production of The Lake (1934).  It was designed by Howard Greer and is made of white satin and duchess lace (swoon!!).

Another favorite of mine was this amazing dress was from Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962). I mean just look at that detail. OMG! It's a masterpiece!

Oh I saw these other neat personal items from Ms. Hepburn-I loved looking at all her magazines, playbills, but these two were my favorites. The one on the left was her makeup case for the stage. My husband looked closely and saw that many of the products were made by Max Factor! The other is a drawing that Ms. Hepburn made of herself. She would often draw herself especially when she was in plays. This one I believe is when she starred as Coco Chanel on Broadway from 1969 to 1971 called Coco. It was her first musical! I would have loved to have seen her in that!

My last two favorites where of the outfits she wore during on of my favorite films Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. The other were of her trousers...oh my how neat to see them in person! Wearing trousers was Hepburn's trademark. She liked to be comfortable and hey, who can blame her. Dresses are wonderful but sometimes you just want to lounge around or not worry about stockings and such and that was Hepburn's mind frame when she wore her famous trousers. Aren't they neat!!??

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of Katherine Hepburn's fashion. I find it very enjoyable and loved learning all about this side of Ms. Hepburn. I hope you did too!!!

xox