Celebrating the Style of the 50s and 60s

 

I have always loved the styles of the 1950s and 1960s. To me the following women had remarkable style and are a few of my favorite actresses.

Mysts of Avalon small bulletElizabeth Montgomery

 

Elizabeth Montgomery was a brilliant actress. She is best known for her role of Samantha Stephens on the TV show Bewitched. This show was a cultural wallpaper for the times, and on it we saw Samantha's style change dramatically over Bewitched's eight year run. She went from a classic prim 1950s housewife look (despite the fact that it was 1964) to a relaxed 1970s mother. She also played Samantha's groovy cousin Serena under the name of Pandora Spocks. She continued to work after Bewitched and was well known for her TV movies and lent her distinctive voice to other projects. She lost her short battle with colon cancer in 1995. Read her comprehensive biography (written by me!) here.

Mysts of Avalon small bulletAnn-Margret
 

Ann-Margret's spunk and style are the epitome of what I love about the 1960s. She was great in Bye, Bye Birdie (with Paul Lynde, who was also on Bewitched) and Viva Las Vegas (with Elvis Presley). One of my favorite movies is Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell. It's interesting to note that the older Patrick is played by Roger Smith, who is A-M's husband! Fortunately, A-M is alive and well today and continues to look great and act in dramatic roles on the stage and screen. Read her biography here.

Mysts of Avalon small bulletGrace Kelly
 

Grace Kelly was brilliant in the Hitchcock movies. I particularly loved her style in Rear Window, in which she played a fashion editor and wears the most spectacular costumes. She was also great in Philadelphia Story, Dial M for Murder, and To Catch a Thief. She left her acting career, and the US, to marry the prince of Monoco. I admire her even more for that stellar tiara collection she displayed throughout her reign. She was also a dedicated humanitarian. She died in a car accident in 1982 on the same narrow road that was used in a scene with Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief. Read her biography here.

Mysts of Avalon small bulletAudrey Hepburn

 

Audrey Hepburn first drew me in with her role as Holly Golightly in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. This is one of my favorite movies and I saw it as a teen who was aspiring to be a fashion designer. I loved her clothing, apartment (that clawfoot bathtub converted into a couch will be mine one day), and most of all her acting. I grew to admire her work in other roles, such as Charade, Funny Face, Roman Holiday, The Children's Hour, Paris When It Sizzles, and more. She was a charitable person and her work with UNICEF showed her tremendous spirit. Sadly, like Elizabeth Montgomery, she lost a battle with colon cancer and left this world far too soon in 1993. Read her biography here.

Mysts of Avalon small bulletRosalind Russell

 

I don't think there is a character I love more than Rosalind Russell as Mame Dennis in the 1958 classic Auntie Mame. Her "Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!" resonates with me. Her flashy clothes and signature smoking stick, in addition to her Bohemian lifestyle are still the height of fashion 45 years later. She was also brilliant in Gypsy with Natalie Wood.

Mysts of Avalon small bulletJames Garner
 

All right, so he's not a swingin' sixties chick, but I could not mention the style of this era without mentioning how much I adore James Garner. Click his pic for the James Garner page.

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