aMUSEing

Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy

I was looking at a series of images today from W Magazine about fashion designers and their muses. The concept of "muses" originated in Greek Mythology and were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths.(Wiki)

For this application a muse is defined as, a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist (1) Fashion designers throughout history have all had muses at one time or another.

In the W piece it was greats like Yoko Ono  (For Proenza Schouler) 

Photo: W Magazine

and not so great's like MIA (for Donatella Versace)

Photo: W Magazine

When thinking of the ultimate fashion designers muse I think of Audrey Hepburn and the french designer Hubert de Givenchy. Their relationship was legendary and produced some of the most beautiful and iconic dresses of all time.

Iconic: Givenchy "Breakfast at Tiffany's" LBD - 1961

They met in 1953 on the set of Audrey's film "Sabrina" and they remained friends until her death in 1993. Givenchy told the WSJ, "She was wonderful. She was someone unique. She was real. She could do everything"

Hepburn said (as read in Vogue) "His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality," 

1984

Do you have a muse? 

If you were a designer/artist who would your muse be?

Vintage Givenchy via Evolution Vintage

Shop: Era: 1980's $600

Quote Me: Celebrating Women

International Women's Day is here again and it always makes me take pause and reflect on the amazing women who I admire, who came before me, who walk beside me and those who are raising the next generation of women. I wanted to share a few quotes (because I'm obsessed with quotations) about women that I was drawn too. We can be many things; bold, strong, fragile, emotional, glamorous, solid, vulnerable, intelligent, helpful, beautiful, scary, capable and MUCH MORE. We are the keeper of the keys, the givers of life and the most inspirational people I know.

The Sisters - Claudia Tremblay

What I also know is that women are WAY TOO HARD ON THEMSELVES. Give yourself a break and take some time today to reflect on where we have been as women, where we are and where we are going! 

“With the spread of conformity and image-driven superficiality, the allure of an individuated woman in full possession of herself and her powers will prove irresistible. We were born for plenitude and inner fulfillment.” ― Elizabeth Prioleau, Seductress - Women Who Ravished the World and Their Lost Art of Love

“I believe in strong women. I believe in the woman who is able to stand up for herself. I believe in the woman who doesn't need to hide behind her husband's back. I believe that if you have problems, as a woman you deal with them, you don't play victim, you don't make yourself look pitiful, you don't point fingers. You stand and you deal. You face the world with a head held high and you carry the universe in your heart.” ― C. JoyBell C.

"Everyone has inside of her a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!" – Anne Frank.

"There are two ways of spreading light. To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it." – EdithWharton

"Do you want to meet the love of your life? Look in the mirror." – Byron Katie.

                                                                      "The Ages Of Women" Gustav Klimt, 1905

"I am willing to put myself through anything, temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level. I am interested in the unknown, and the only path to the unknown is through breaking barriers, an often painful process." - Diana Nyad

"Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weaknesses." – Madame Marie du Deffand.

"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off." – Gloria Steinem.

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."— Marie Curie, chemist and physicist

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security." — Gail Sheehy, American journalist

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."— Oprah Winfrey

What are your FAV quotes? 

Celebrate yourself and all the fabulous women who surround you today and Always!

Further Reading:

International Women's Day Blog 2012

International Women's Day 2011