grace kelly 2.0

It's not exactly groundbreaking, but I kind of have a thing for Grace Kelly. Rear Window, To Catch A Thief, High Noon, Dial M for Murder, and High Society are among my favorites. She was an inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant's favorite co-star, the namesake of an Hermès bag (and eventually a fragrance), and of course there's that whole Princess of Monaco bit. Her status as a fashion and beauty icon is just icing on the cake.

Despite living much of her life as a tabloid star, with her relationships under constant public scrutiny, Kelly managed to retain an uncommon level of class. Sure, she had more than her fair share of scandal (alleged affairs with Ray Milland and Bing Crosby, a quickie engagement to Oleg Cassini that fueled pregnancy rumors), yet she always managed to present herself to the public with sophistication and style.

I've shared my sartorial admiration for Diane Kruger and January Jones before, but lately I've been noticing that in addition to their physical resemblance to Kelly, their style of dress is evocative of the Princess of Monaco. I don't just mean in cut and style (though it really doesn't get more modern day Grace Kelly than Diane Kruger in Giambattista Valli), but in presentation. There's something about their style that I find both enviable and unintimidating, graceful without being humorless. They're the kind of women that are easy to admire from across the room, whom you also wouldn't mind getting stuck with in a long line for cocktails. Whether they're veering toward the playful (Kruger in a Chanel bow tie ensemble), the throwback (Jones in ice blue Versace), or the avant garde (Kruger in Nina Ricci), they're fashionable without seeming pretentious. Quite a feat when wearing anything designed by Oliver Theyskens.

Diane Kruger in structured Giambattista Valli

Kruger in Theyskens creation for Nina Ricci (In my opinion, she had much better luck with this style than Kate Bosworth did. Style File agrees!)

Kruger in kicky Chanel

Kruger in peek-a-boo Christian Dior

Jones in lingerie-inspired Dolce & Gabbana

Jones in Elie Saab (a designer that I'm often ambivalent about, but Jones looks gorgeous here)

Jones looking effortlessly beautiful in Andrew Gn

Jones in timeless Versace