“I was a success because of the times I lived in. My style of personality became the style.” – Katherine Hepburn
When it came to fashion, Katharine Hepburn earnt her stripes by standing her ground. Hitting Hollywood’s acting scene in the ’30s when starlets were expected to be platinum blonde, lipstick-wearing and decked out in sequins and frills, Hepburn refused to conform.
The original androgynous dresser, Katharine Hepburn’s no-nonsense approach to her career followed through to her wardrobe, and she became the epitome of a modern woman, wearing clothes that looked chic because of their practicality, not in spite of it.
“If you always do what interests you – at least one person is pleased.” – Katharine Hepburn
She avoided the press and shunned public events, but her shyness and aversion to glitz and glamour just made her even more enthralling. Rather than courting the press and donning feminine fitted dresses fashionable at the time, Hepburn focused her efforts on playing a daily game of tennis and finding the perfect wide-fit trousers and collared shirt.
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn
Her laid-back masculine sportswear aesthetic is still referenced almost every season on the catwalks – when it came to fashion she was all about low-maintenance dressing. “I wear my sort of clothes to save me the trouble of deciding which clothes to wear,” she once said.
Her enthusiasm for style followed through to her work. “One does not design for Miss Hepburn,” Oscar-winning costume designer Edith Head once said of Katharine. “One designs with her.”
“Life is hard – after all, it kills you.” – Katharine Hepburn
Multi-Oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn passed away in 2003 at the age of 96. Her style star shines on.