British accessories designer Anya Hindmarch has reportedly claimed she isn’t too keen on Kate Middleton becoming a modern day style icon. We think it’s too late for that, mind.

“I hope she doesn’t become too much of a fashion icon because it would be so exhausting for her,” said Anya. “I know her a bit and she’s a naturally healthy girl. She does a lot of exercise and no wonder she lost weight around the wedding — it’s quite an ordeal to go through.”

And Anya herself – who also attended the royal wedding – has been through some difficult times throughout her career herself, so can relate to the stresses and strains The Duchess of Cambridge may be going through.

“You don’t have the volume for the factories to give you much time,” said Anya of her career troubles to Vogue UK. “And the designs have to be the most special to win the customers over. Basically, you have to sweet talk and sell to the suppliers as much as to the customers. You have to be determined, beyond sense almost, to get through that phase.”

Looks like you came out on top though, Anya.

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Yesterday marked the end of an era. Elizabeth Taylor was the last of the Hollywood greats, but behind her incredible film career spanning 50 years and her extraordinary philanthropic work, she was a true style icon.

Epitomising pure Hollywood pin-up, Elizabeth’s theatrical ability to mix high-octane elegance with an air of everyday nonchalance – a cluster of diamonds with a sweater; a flared Fifties dress with a cigarette – gave an enduring appeal to her innately feminine fashion.

Here, as we remember and celebrate the last true Hollywood legend of her time, we take a look at some of Elizabeth Taylor’s most memorable moments in fashion that helped shoot her to fame as one of the world’s inimitable style icons.

1948 – looking every bit the Hollywood pin-up poolside.

1950s – Subtly sexy in a polo-neck sweater, fishnet tights and high-waisted knickers.

1951 – at the Lady with the Lamp premiere looking fabulously Fifties.

1954 – showing off her famous curves in a full-skirted Fifties dress.

1955 – in a white bralette and high-waisted tailored trousers on posing prettily n the set of Giant.

1959 – on the set of Suddenly Last Summer setting hearts a-flutter in a white one-piece.

1959 – looking effortlessly chic in a cinched-and-striped dress and white headscarf on the set of Suddenly Last Summer.

1960s – with her signature bouffant bob smoking a cigarette, her incredible beauty is simple but striking.

1961 – wearing negligee on the set of Butterfield, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

1963 – a career-defining moment playing Cleopatra, Elizabeth sports the iconic Egyptian style and shows of her enviable hourglass figure.

1970s – Elizabeth looks luxuriously elegant wrapped in fur.

1979 – wearing a shimmering metallic gown to collect her A. Philip Randolph Humanitarian award for her efforts in supporting children’s rights.

1984 – walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in an oversized red gown.

2000 – receiving her Dame title from the Queen aged 68.

2003 – blonde and adorned in diamonds at the amfAR gala in Cannes aged 71.

To a true style icon of Hollywood’s golden generation, we salute you, Liz (and we’re wearing diamonds just for you, girl).

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Last month the hearts of fashion fans and clothing collectors dropped when a certain Daphne Guinness stopped the public auction of Isabella Blow’s collection to buy it privately herself. Now, after a lot of did-she-didn’t-she and why-did-she, Daphne’s spoken out about why she did, in fact, buy the lot.

“The planned sale at Christie’s could only result in carnage, as souvenir seekers plundered the incredible body of work Issie had created over her life: the hats she wore every day and had made in duplicate; the laser-cut black leather dress Alexander McQueen had made her with the fitted bodice and full skirt; the shocking pink Jun Takahashi burka she had insisted on wearing to a show in Paris,” she said. “Indeed, in many ways, the auction would not be merely a sale of clothes; it would be a sale of what was left of Issie, and the carrion crows would gather and take away her essence forever.”

Daphne, along with Isabella’s sisters – the executors of the state – were worried, to say the least, about what a public sale of the fashion icon’s clothing would do to her memory. “I knew that I was probably one of the only people who could prevent Issie’s possessions becoming mere morbid memorabilia,” Daphne explained. “Isabella was my friend when she was alive, and that fact is unchanged by her death, and as her friend I did not want anybody misappropriating her vision, her life and her particular genius.”

And so, she chatted with Issie’s sisters, with Philip Treacy, who’d been Issie’s great friend and collaborator (and who, incidently, was also worried about the public sale), with Amanda Harlech and other close friends to ask whether what she was about to do would be disrespectful in any way, but the consensus was unanimous – go for it.

“Christie’s was incredible, they understood the situation. The sale was withdrawn, and I am terribly grateful to them,” said Daphne. “I want – we want – to do what she would want; what we think she would want. I would like this unique collection, marked by her grace and the fact it was so intimately hers, to allow people (whether students, lovers of fashion, historians) to remember her and benefit from her legacy, when we who knew and loved Issie are no longer here. For that, it needs to be kept whole; it is like a diary, a journey of a life, and a living embodiment of the dearest, most extraordinary friend.”

Read the full piece, as beautifully written and explained by Daphne Guinness herself, at the Financial Times.

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The homemaker’s bible declared Madonna the leading fashion icon for women over 40.

“The great thing about Madonna is that she constantly looks good and constantly reinvents herself and sets trends,” editor Lindsay Nicholson is quoted as saying by news.com

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Received the comment below re this post. This is a question that I honestly hadn’t thought about and think its v.interesting. Finally managed to sit down and write my thoughts.

This look is adorable. Patricia Field and the other young lady with the black hair and all the tats have some real panache. Sarah has style, but she is hardly a fashion icon for me. No love lost. My question is this: Is it fair to say that someone has great style and is an icon if they are pulled together by other people? A lot of these women are made and told what to do and what to wear. So is it really fair to give them kudos for things that they are not responsible for? Just a thought.
I_boogie | Email | Homepage | 11.28.03 – 11:39 pm | #

Personally I would give most credit to the stylist and definitely some to the celeb. You could have three celebrities wearing the same outfit and one would stand out from the rest. In SJP’s case there is something about her. Perhaps her confidence or maybe her personality but I do think she can be classed as a fashion icon. Having said that I can understand why people would disagree.

In terms of whether or not its fair for the celeb to get more merit than the stylist, then no I don’t think it is but its the nature of the business. The star is in the limelight and chose to be. Whereas the stylist decided to be in the background, organising and picking the right clothes. Hopefully this may change and stylists will start to get more recognition. I really can’t lie I enjoy admiring the fashion icons, respecting the stylists and more often than not I tend to appreciate the icons more. However I will start looking behind the scenes a lot more and investigating into who actually put the outfit together.

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