Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Fashion Inspiration - Romy Schneider

Today's 'Fashion Inspiration' post is a bit different because the inspiration is not based on a theme this time, but rather on a person. This person being legendary Austrian-German actress Romy Schneider.


photo courtesy moviemarket.co.uk


I had never heard of Romy Schneider until I came across a photo of her after browsing various websites for style inspirations. I was struck by her regal beauty and her classic, feminine sense of style.

I was so intrigued that I did some reading about her and found that she had an interesting life that unfortunately ended in tragedy.

Romy Schneider was born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach-Retty in Austria in 1938. She made her film debut in Wenn der weiße Flieder wieder blüht (When the White Lilacs Bloom Again) in 1953.

Her breakthrough role was that of Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria, the later Empress Consort of Austria, in the romantic biopic Sissi (1955) and its two sequels, Sissi - Die junge Kaiserin (1956) and Sissi - Schicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin (1957).


Romy soon starred in Christine (1958), a remake of Max Ophüls's 1933 film Liebelei (itself based upon a play by Arthur Schnitzler). During the filming of Christine, Romy met and fell in love with French actor Alain Delon, who co-starred in the movie. She left Germany to join Alain in Paris and then became engaged to him in 1959.

Romy appeared in a few Hollywood films which included Good Neighbor Sam, a 1964 comedy with Jack Lemmon, and 1965 What's New, Pussycat? costarring Peter O'Toole.

Romy and Alain decided to split in 1963 but still continued a lifelong friendship. She married Harry Meyen, a German director and actor in 1966 but they later divorced in 1975. The couple had a son, David Christopher Meyen (1966–1981). In 1975, Romy married Daniel Biasini, her private secretary but they separated in 1981. Their daughter Sarah Magdalena Biasini was born July 14, 1977 and she also became an actress.

Romy created one of the most memorable moments on German television on October 30, 1974. She was the second guest on Dietmar Schönherr's talk show Je später der Abend (The later the evening) and after a brief interview, she said passionately to the last guest, bank robber and author Burkhard Driest: "Sie gefallen mir. Sie gefallen mir sehr." which translates to "I like you. I like you a lot."

On July 5, 1981, when her son David was 14, he attempted to climb the spiked fence at his stepfather's parents home when he was killed by puncturing his femoral artery. After this tragic incident, Romy began consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and was found dead in her apartment in Paris on May 29, 1982. It was assumed that she had committed suicide by taking a lethal mix of alcohol and sleeping pills, however no post-mortem examination was carried out. Later it was declared that she died from cardiac arrest.

Romy's last film was La Passante du Sans-Souci (The Passerby), 1982.

German actress
Yvonne Catterfeld is to portray Romy Schneider in a biopic about her life titled Eine Frau wie Romy (A Woman Like Romy) which is slated to be released in 2009.

(
Source)










photos courtesy gettyimages.com, rominette.blog.onet.pl and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81357342@N00.



I found some great Romy-inspired items based on the photos featured above.






1930s Style 2-Tone Platform Spectator Pumps
Price: US$39.00
http://www.shopplasticland.com/fashion/p/P80610901.html


1985 Floral Pleated Hem Chiffon Dress
Price: US$25.95
http://www.trendyoutfitter.com/flplhemchdr.html

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

i love love love this post. all of the pictures are super inspiring and it's so fun that you provided good options for us to try too!
xo

Edirin said...

nice pieces, nice post all together...

thanks

Kimberley said...

ohhhh I adore that sweater dress... Lovely find my dear!

-SLCsocialite

Winnie said...

I love the one of her in the checked shirt and shorts. She looks amazing!

Don't worry about the award, it's hard to keep track who's done what anyway!

Anonymous said...

wow she was gorgeous and stylish, but oh so tragic

Tricia said...

what a wonderful post, thanks, I'm going to rent her german films. how sad, her son's death and ensuing downfall, brings tears to one's eyes. Well written.

Couture Carrie said...

Gorgeous! Especially love the gingham.
And thanks so much D for the Miss Universe pic - I added it to my post today :)

xoxox CC

KATLIN said...

I just got a blue and white gingham shirt like that! I saw it and had to buy it because it reminded me of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and that was my fave movie growing up!

Unknown said...

She's beautiful!

Bombchell said...

she's pretty! I prefer her with dark hair over the blonde. & she looks so lovely in the coloured picture with the scarf.

wow the f21 is actually nice!

Laurel said...

Wow, she is really stunning. Reminds me of another actress from about the same time period, but the name has escaped me - I hate when that happens, I feel senile. Ha. I really do respect and adore these well thought out, super intricate posts. You are so lovely, my dear.

Thank you SO much Danz! I'm still completely awestruck by the whole event yesterday, I can't believe it. I'm on perma-excited! You know, it was really hard to stay motivated (without you guys I would have nosedived) because I just knew people were cheating - but then this happens and it's like the light through the clouds, ha. Good things come to those who wait, eh? And to those with AMAZING bloggie friends!

I hope you had an uber-fantastic day, bella. I owe you, BIGTIME! ;)

Secretista said...

I learned something new! She has personal style and I love it. I love your tips as well.

Bang Bang Starz said...

nice post, your a really good writer...when i read your posts they sound so professional.

TINA said...

She's beautiful, and i love her sense of style as well! Love how you found pieces that were her style - I love the Chiffon sweater dress.
Sure, I would love to swap links! :)

Sharon S said...

Hi Danz-what a fantastic post-so very interesting and stunning pictures! Thanks for sharing-I've not heard of her before!! Have a great day, my friend!!

aizat.cinta.goddess said...

wow!!romy!!she is classic!!love the beauty!

Vain and Vapid said...

I love her casual summer looks with just shorts and the gingham blouse & I like your version as well.

Syed said...

Oh wow she looks stunning! Love the black and white sweater dress and the floral chiffon dress!

ROBOTS said...

me like this photos. very chic.

Siljesfashion said...

Great post! Loved all the black and white photos of her, she was a true beauty. Such a tragic story, but you told it well.

Blonde hair, Blue jeans said...

didn't know about her....but i already love her! good informatioN! and the first dress is so nice!

Kira Aderne said...

I ve heard about her, but nice to know something more, she is stunning!!
I used to study with a girl with her name! hehe of course her mother made a tribute :)

a kiss!!

CULTURE CREATORS said...

OooOOo i like her:)




xCC

Miss White said...

Romy was fabulous, what great inspiration!

I'd love to swap links thanks, I've added you :)

Lucy said...

love the shorts outfits!

Always In Style said...

What a wonderful post - fabulous inspiration, thanks!

Blicious said...

i love the pics!

we wear things said...

so fabulous and classic!

La Clocharde said...

Lovely post!!
She was perfect...one of the names that comes to my mind when I think of what a lady is. So elegant in an effortless way (that's real elegance, isn't it?). Thank you for this post and for your kind words at mine, darling.

L

Thu said...

how tragic... she kind of reminded me of marilyn monroe in the picture of her wearing white shorts because of her curvy figure and also the outfit in general.

yiqin; said...

I love her style! She has an amzing figure! I wish I can pull off sucha style.

Anonymous said...

Great spotting ))) Your choices are amazing!

Sam said...

love her style! it was so chic and put together.

bi-style said...

I love Romy she is an icon!
I added you on my blog;)

jess said...

great post! its so sad how her life ended

Seeker said...

Great post dear.

Romy was soooooooo beautiful and stylish!!

I saw Sissi years ago on TV, and mother used to speak about her.

You chose very nice things to match Romy's style.

xoxo

Elisa Kwon said...

I love the last chiffon dress and the whole outfit the model was wearing!

Well, she may be the most gorgeous person to have ever existed...

Diana said...

Great post. Thanks for introducing me to her, she had great fashion. I love the pieces you choose.

Human Racing said...

Great bio. I love finding out about stylish people I've never heard of before.

Liz Lizo said...

such a beauty, such an interesting past. its sad how many beautiful actresses die tragic deaths....check out my blog i gave you and award.

Liz Lizo said...

ok so now that i read the rest of the updates, i realize you have already been awarded, congrats again.

Ida said...

Loved that post. She is such a huge icon here, very much loved for her portraying of Sissi above all. I just adore her style.

AlicePleasance said...

I was looking for a pair of 2 tone pumps like those ones :-)

Toni Alexis said...

wow i had never heard of her either, but her style is amazing. you picked some great items! love the chiffon dress and bow collar scarf

xoxo

Debbie Shiamay said...

You can write a complete post about absolutely anything!!! Love ur blog as always!

Times of Glory said...

Oh my, she has that unique and distinctive style that will last forever and ever! I am totally freaked out how gorgeous she looks! I love her 2 picture (the outfit is sooooooooo pretty)! Well done, Danz! You really inspire me all the timexx

Doriz Jeltzin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tina Tang said...

Huh, I never heard of Romy until now either! She had some serious style; great blog entry by the way!

Vertiginoso said...

Captivating actress and Real "Beauty Icon", simply The haughty incarnation of CLASS . . .

A Bientôt, Antoine

Cheryl Lynn Pastor Romance Author said...

You are a girl after my own heart. An excellent writer and an avid researcher. The pictures of Romy and the story of her exciting but ultimately tragic life gives us insite into the world of a talented icon.

The fashion choices are right on. I absolutely love the shoes.

Another winning post, my lovely.

Unknown said...

thanksss for the cute comments on my blog :)
i really appreciate that!

Anonymous said...

Hi! This is great, I´m happy you "discovered" Romy....she´s THE Icon in Germany and France, and the most beautiful woman of all time....just look at www.romyschneider.at, or http://romyphotos.canalblog.com/, fantastic!!!
Thank you for this, but: it´s NOT Romy on the second picture, but I don´t know who it is....best, Torsten

beAutor said...

I love this actress and her dress