STYLE ICON: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most exciting jazz singers of her time and, because of the naturalness of her style, had a popular appeal that extended far beyond the borders of jazz. Referred to as "The First Lady of Song"

When researching Ella, I also found her referred to as “A large, pleasant-looking woman.”

Large…hmmm…Thick girls have always been criticized; even the ones that came long before us. But pleasant looking??? She’s beautiful!! The flawless makeup, the beautiful hair, the fashion…Ella Exudes style. I also have a soft spot for her because she reminds me of my Grandma J

Ella was born in Newport News, VA on April 25^th, 1917. Her parents separated shortly after her birth and her and her mother moved to Yonkers, NY. When Ella was young she always dreamed of becoming a dancer, but she also loved listening to the jazz records her mother brought home.

When Ella was 15, her Mom had a heart attack and passed away. Ella’s grades slipped, she started getting into trouble. She began working as a lookout for a bordello and with a mafia-affiliated numbers runner. After getting in trouble with the police, she was placed at the Colored Orphan Asylum in the Bronx.

Just 2 short years later, Ella made her singing debut at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY. She had originally planned to go onstage and dance but she was intimidated by a local dance group, so she decided to sing instead. (Can you imagine? What would’ve happened had she chose to dance instead of sing that night??)

Ella was in the music business for over 50 years. Her last recording took place in 1991 and her last public performance was in 1993. She had 2 tumultuous marriages, and adopted one son, Ray Brown Jr.

Ella Fitzgerald was notoriously shy, late in her career when accepting an award she said, “I don’t want to say the wrong thing, which I always do. I think I do better when I sing.”

RIP Ella, Middlest

Style Icon: Grace Kelly

Grace Patricia Kelly was a strong independent woman that went after what she wanted, on her own terms. Yes, she was born into a family of self-made millionaires, and lived the life of a socialite, but that didn't mean she fell into the mold of her parents wishes.

At a young age she started modeling for social events and during high school, she acted and danced to feed that desire of expression. After being rejected by Bennington College in July 1947 due to low mathematics scores, to the dismay of her mother, Grace decided to pursue her dreams of a career in the theater. She set her sights on the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Although the school had already selected its semester quota, Kelly wangled an interview with the school's admission officer and was able to start that October. Instead of living off of her parents, she worked as a model to support her studies, giving her access to high fashion and the latest trends. Her early acting pursuits led her to the stage, but soon after Grace made the move to Hollywood to explore a tv and movie career.

After a successful Oscar winning career in film, Grace met and married Prince Rainier Grimaldi III of Monaco and became Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. The couple had 3 children. As princess, Kelly was active in improving the arts institutions of Monaco, and eventually the Princess Grace Foundation was formed to support local artisans. She was one of the first celebrities to support and speak on behalf of La Leche League, an organization that advocates breastfeeding; she planned a yearly Christmas party for local orphans, and dedicated a Garden Club that reflected her love of flowers.

Grace died on 14 September 1982 after her car went off a road in the cliffs of Monaco. Her life ended ubruptly, but her Style lives on...



-the Oldest

Spotlight: Style Icon

Sophia Loren

Does this picture NOT just scream Style?

She was born Sofia Villani Scicolone, September 20, 1934, in Rome, Italy. Her father refused to marry her mother and left, leaving Sophia, her mother and sister to struggle and have to move in with relatives. During World War II, Sophia was running to a shelter during a raid of a frequent bombing target close to where they lived and was hit with shrapnel and wounded in the chin. She entered a beauty contest when she was 15 and didn’t win! Later she began acting classes and was picked to star in Quo Vadis, in 1951, launching her acting career.

One of the judges from a beauty contest she entered, Carlo Ponti, went on to later become her husband. They had 2 sons, Loren stayed married to Ponti until his death in 2007. When asked in a November 2009 interview if she is ever likely to marry again, Loren replied "No, never again. It would be impossible to love anyone else."

I picked Sophia Loren as one of my Style Icons, not only because she has always been one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen!!!!... But as I researched her I became more intrigued how this woman who didn’t have the easiest life has ALWAYS appeared graceful, elegant and assured. She was abandoned by her father as a little girl. That in itself could have set her on a path of low self-esteem and insecurity; trying to meet those needs in other men. She lived in a war-ridden country and was hit in the face with shrapnel and still remains the epitome of beauty. She was a Runner Up in beauty Competitions. That means she didn’t win….that means she failed. But she kept going. She met her much older husband when she was 15 and when he passed she said that “It would be impossible to love anyone else.” I want to love someone like that!!!! I want to maintain grace and elegance and assuredness in the way that I carry myself. Style is living your life confidently, knowing exactly who you are.

Mz. Loren has got it.

Inspired, Middlest