"Be yourself, the world worships the original". Ingrid Bergman was a style revolutionary in every which way that mattered.
Refusing to buy in to Hollywood's narrow minded idea of beauty (she famously refused to pluck her eyebrows or cap her teeth), Bergman had a classic androgynous style embodying a more modern women. From tailored suits paired with sheer scarves and wide brimmed hats to classic khaki trench coats, pencil skirts cut just below the knee and statement necklaces, Bergman has become as known for her classic sense of style as she was for her acting.
With her tight waved curls, the award winning Scandinavian beauty quickly became one of Hollywood's power players during the golden age. Already a star in her homeland, the multi-lingual actress went on to become one of the most well known actresses of the decade. She starred opposite some of the greatest leading men of the day, including Carey Grant in Hitchcock's Notorious and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (obviously). Carey Grant famously said of Bergman: "There are only seven movie stars in the world whose name alone will induce American bankers to lend money for movie productions, and the only woman on the list is Ingrid Bergman." How's that for star power?
Bergman wore more masculine cuts, with cleaner lines. Wool trousers in navy and white featured heavily, paired with either a cashmere twin set or a crisp white button-down shirt. She frequently wore suits with elegant pencil skirt (a perfect antidote to Dior's earlier A-Line fuller New Look cut.) With an easy sensuality her style was relaxed, elegant and practical, often finished with a statement necklace. It's easy to see how many of Bergman's pieces would fit in to our wardrobes today.
When looking to capture the essence of Bergman's style, favour modern classic cuts. A classic mac trench from Hobbs is a timeless piece you'll get heaps of wear out of and would look gorgeous with a pair of wide legged culottes from Lavish Alice (a contemporary take on wide-legged trousers and THE cut for SS14.) If opting for millinery you can't go wrong with something from William Chambers, while Zara has pretty much been nailing it with their range of necklaces at the moment.
Her aesthetic was unfussy, accented more so in her accessories. A light knit would be finished with a bold piece of costume jewellery, or a loosely worn button up shirt finished with a fedora. She favoured stripes, minimal make-up and a simple scarf. She cared little for what people expected of her, instead allowing her charm and talent to define her. It was her eye for a modern cut coupled with impeccable taste that has made her one of most enduring classic style icons.
Get the look: 1 Rhinestone necklace, £19.99, Zara; 2 Saskia trenchcoat, £189, Hobbs; 3 Striped cotton cropped top, £135, Alice and Olivia at Harvey Nichols, 4 Smart Deva sandals, £45, Clarks at Debenhams; 5 Wide-legged culottes, £36, Lavish Alice
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