Grace of Monaco - The Movie

Tonight Grace of Monaco will air on the Lifetime network. This is a biopic of one of France's most iconic movie stars and her rise from actress to royalty.  Princess Grace is my all-time favorite royal...her palace was the first stop I made on my very first visit to Europe many years ago.  Even though the film opened with negative reviews at the Cannes Film Festival and received thumbs down from the royal family of Monaco, I'll still be watching...just to see for myself--and of course, to see Nicole Kidman wearing fabulous gowns!

The film focuses on Kelly's life after she wed Monaco's Prince Rainier in 1956...struggling between her new life as a royal and a temptation to return to acting in Hollywood after an offer from Alfred Hitchcock.

Nicole Kidman as Grace and Tim Roth as Prince Ranier

"She (Princess Grace) fascinated me and still does and obviously she fascinates the world."

~Nicole Kidman

Poise, Style, and Grace

What is poise?  It is a way of moving that shows a graceful, dignified, and self confident manner. Never underestimate good posture.  Sit up straight.  Watch the way you walk. Princess Grace had impeccable posture.

What is style?  It's the personal touch that you put on everything--your home interior, your fashion wardrobe, and entertaining.  It's important to develop your own style...your "signature style."  Your "signature style" is what makes you unique; stay true to yourself and your creation will be unique.  Find a signature style and stick to it.  Princess Grace loved pearls, scarves, sunglasses, Hermes bags, and her trademark white gloves.  She knew that her hair looked best pulled off of her face.  She is a style icon.

What is grace? Having the confidence to handle any situation with poise. Princess Grace undoubtedly received "Princess training" before she became the wife of Prince Ranier. Her upbringing in high society of Philadelphia paved the ground for Grace's future life as a lady full of grace.

A Tribute to Princess Grace

GRACE PATRICIA KELLY
Model, Actress, and Princess
BORN: November 12, 1929--Philadelpha, Pennsylvania
DIED: September 14, 1982--Monte Carlo, Monaco

Grace Kelly starred in some of my favorite movies of all time...The Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, To Catch a Thief, and High Society
At the age of 26, she gave up all the stardom in Hollywood...

In April of 1956, she married Ranier III, Prince of Monaco and became Her Serene Highness. Kelly and her family provided Prince Ranier with a dowry of 2 million USD in order for the marriage to take place! Her wedding gown was made by Helen Rose...embroidered with pearls and covered with lace.

Princess Grace settled down to a married life and became very active in the Arts and many charities.

Ever the style icon...Princess Grace was named on the International Best Dressed List from 1960 until her death.

The Royal Palace at Monaco, Princess Grace's home...it was the most important destination on my first trip to Europe!

The Royal Family of Monaco

Princess Grace on the streets of Paris.

Love this photo of the Princess...wearing Givenchy.

During her first pregnancy, Princess Grace carried a Hermes Kelly Bag to hide her private, growing waistline. Of course, now these pocketbooks go for many thousands of dollars!

You have to love her style...in this photo, she's wearing an Hermes scarf as a sling to support her broken arm!!!

The aging Princess...still a beauty, full of style and grace.

The funeral service was held for Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, age 52, at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco.

"I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds, and who was a kind and loving person. I would like to leave the memory of a human being with a correct attitude and who did her best to help others."
~~Princess Grace

Her daughter Caroline...one of my few style icons left.