01.01.70
In that fabulous, figure hugging white swimsuit that accentuated her perfect shape, it is not difficult to see why. Richard Burton, the love of her life, whom she married and divorced twice, said that her figure was “a true miracle of construction and the work of an engineer of genius”. Taylor was known for her “triple assets” – a chiselled face set off by the most beautiful lavender blue eyes, which during the 60s she set against lots of heavy, thick, black kohl eyeliner, a voluptuous bust line and a nipped in waist. She was a woman who really did define Hollywood glamour. Unapologetically extravagant in her taste, she was bedecked in diamonds, pearls and couture dresses. In the 50s and 60s she favoured plunging necklines with straps poised to slip off her shoulders, her hair like a dark cloud blooming around her. In the seventies and eighties her style became bolder – big prints and kaftans took over from the womanly, figure hugging pieces. Edith Head, costume stylist described her as “short, extremely curvaceous and not as easy to dress as Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn”. It was not so much a sense of elegance that she projected, but more of defiant and bold sexuality, glitz and glamour. Taylor rarely went to fashion shows, preferring to shop from sketches sent over to her at the Dorchester, her favourite London hotel, by couture houses such as Dior.
Source: Oxford Student
KATE UPTON is your Sports Illustrated