By Sarah Ball
Grace Kelly (right), the original Hitchcock blonde, was always an anomaly in Hollywood. She favored white gloves and demure dresses, unlike her flashy cohort, and she exuded a patrician grace that was often misinterpreted as chilliness. But once crowned Princess Grace of Monaco, her refined style squared perfectly with her new job. She became a major fashion icon, and the ladylike attire she wore as princess is considered her primary style legacy today. This month, more than 50 of Kelly’s outfits will appear in an exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum: “Grace Kelly, Style Icon.” In honor of Grace and her grace, we look at modern political wives—such as Kelly and first lady Jackie Kennedy, at left—whose style created major media frenzy.
