Author Interview with Caroline Cox
Caroline Cox
knows a thing or two about style. As a leading fashion historian, she
has written many books about clothes and their cultural significance. Her latest book, How to be Adored,
is about helping women to bring the classic glamour of Hollywood greats
like Marilyn Monroe into their everyday lives. In this exclusive
interview, Caroline tells us more! Bookarmy: Your new book, ‘How to be Adored’, is about helping women bring glamour into their lives, but it also subverts current notions about exactly what glamour is. Can you tell us a little bit more?
Caroline Cox: One of the main reasons I wrote the book was because I had become really irritated by the way that the word 'glamour' had lost its cultural currency. Now it automatically means 'glamour model' and the tacky tawdry image that is best expressed by someone like Katie Price or Jodie Marsh. I wanted to reconfirm glamour as the preserve of fantastic women and great role models like Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor and contemporary stars like Kylie Minogue, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Nicole Kidman - women of beauty, substance and personality.
BA: The fashion industry is inherently dependent on conformity and impressing people with the need to dress according to the latest trends. How does the fashion industry fit in within your concept of glamour as defined by individuality?CC: The remarkable thing about fashion at the moment is that there is so much room for individuality. The rules of dressing are more relaxed than ever before – so it surprises me why so many women look the same with their skinny jeans, tango tans, Ugg boots and GHD straightened hair. We need to be a little braver and take our own path rather than copying what is deemed the 'look' of the moment.
The greatest stars have worked out their own individual style, one that suits their bodies and their lifestyle and have stuck with it no matter what's going on in fashion - which is another rea
son why I wrote my book How to be Adored. As the celebrated Hollywood costume designer Edith Head once said, 'Having a consistent look means something to the public.' And consistency and creating your own trademark can be done on the cheap - perfect in a recession!
Gloria Swanson, the grande dame of 1930s film always carried a single red carnation and her left arm always sported a selection of thick gold slave bracelets. Marion Preminger, wife of the film director Otto, made many an entrance in the 1950s by stopping dead at the top of a flight of steps. She then let her white mink stole drape to the floor whilst dragging it slowly off with one hand. One fifties film star Kathleen Hughes appeared at the fashionable Dem Mar beach club in California wearing polka dot toenails to match her red and white polka dot dress. 'How to be Adored' gives lots of tips on how to achieve your own glamorous style - one that doesn't need a £15,000 Hermes bag or expensive designer logos. Don't look like celebrity - look like a star!
BA: Which of the women who are prominent in the media at the moment do you consider to be great, glamorous role models?CC: There are some great role models today - I really like women who refuse to sell their every move to the press, keep a bit of dignity and are flirtatious and intelligently seductive rather than vulgar. As Bette Davis said, 'Glamour is so mysterious and fragile. It's a fascination with the unknown. But how is glamour possible when you know everything there is to know about celebrities? Now we know what they look like without their clothes, who they're sleeping with, everything!'
Gwen Stefani displays a refreshingly old school attitude when she says, 'to me a little bit of sexy – a heel – is plenty sexy. You don't need to have to give it away in the first few seconds.' Jennifer Aniston seems like someone who really cares about her friends and Salma Hayek and Beyonce are just plain fabulous!
BA: Do you think male and female perceptions as to what constitutes female glamour differ?
CC: I think any sophisticated man will respond like one of Pavlov's dog to a pair of black high heels and seamed stockings, red lipstick and a hint of cleavage. Unfortunately some younger men have been taken up with the fake boob / hair extension thing and many women have fallen into the trap of thinking that's the way they have to look. Glamour can take many different forms - it's not just about having the right handbag it's about having the right personality too. My book will show you the way - let's start a new glamour revolution!
BA: Have you got any more books in the pipeline?CC: Yes! Watch this space!
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