Style Icon: Lauren Bacall

When I think of Lauren Bacall's style, classic American sportswear comes to mind. Lauren epitomized cool casual glamour, and still does to this day. She was never an over the top sex kitten and that is what makes her style still wearable, even today. 

Let's have a look at some of her early shots from when she modeled for Harpers Bazaar, mostly under Louise Dahl-Wolfe's lens in the 1940's. She was a teenager trying to get a break on Broadway and was absolutely stunning. 

Classic Bacall.

That gaze!

This look is will never go out of style. 

Her confident look led her to Hollywood where she stunned audiences and Humphrey Bogart alike. This still is from the 1945 film To Have and Have Not where she met Bogart the love of her life at the age of 19. This dress is one of the most iconic dresses in Hollywood history by costume designer Milo Anderson. 

Mid-Week Inspiration: Bogart and Bacall

In keeping with my Valentine mood, this week's Mid-Week Inspiration is my favorite film noir couple, Bogart and Bacall. Humphrey Bogart met Lauren Bacall while filming To Have and Have Not in 1944 . Bogart was 45 and married but instantly attracted to the very young 19 year old Bacall. He mentored her as this was her first film and a relationship was born. After divorcing his wife he married Bacall in 1945 and they remained married until his death in 1957. They had two children, a boy, Stephen, named after Bogart's character in To Have and Have Not and a girl, Leslie, named after Bogart's actor friend Leslie Howard who was killed in WWII.
The couple filmed four movies together. Their chemistry is fun to watch and the films themselves are film noir masterpieces.

To Have and Have Not (1944). Bacall's screen debut and a great one. Her zingers and one liners are a treat. You'd never know she's 19. I also love Bogart's high waisted jeans.

The Big Sleep (1946). Bogart as Phillip Marlowe, I swoon! Good suspense and intrigue.

Dark Passage (1947). On my Netflix queue.

Key Largo (1948). Most likely the most popular one, but my least favorite. Still worth watching.