Book - What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh

Timeless lessons for living with grace and styleDo you buy things when you’re celebrating? I think it’s just me; when I spent the most cash ever on a dream car, I went out and spent £100 on an outfit before I’d even driven the car home. When I found out 90% of my wardrobe was being delivered back to me from New York, I celebrated by shopping for £750 worth of clothes. I only spent just over £200 though and gave the old clothes I replaced to charity.When I spent a lovely weekend in Devon with my friends, I bought this book as a little treat from a delightfully shop in Salcombe, Amelia’s attic. I only went in there to buy an ‘Amelia’s attic’ bag for a little girl I know of the same name.  Audrey (everyone I know knows who I mean, I never need to use the lady’s surname) has been my style icon as long as I can remember. I love Marilyn and Jackie O too but in a different way. Audrey is all encompassing; it’s not just the clothes. It is a little disappointing to read some things. I don’t have a huge curiosity level when it comes to strangers so I really didn’t need to know Ms Hepburn put up with cad like behaviour from both her husbands, if indeed any of this is true. I’m not sure why the author seeked to compare the actress to Katherine Hepburn; I had never made the connection.The book portrayed Audrey to be a little bit too twee for my liking but the worst point is that the author believes every Audrey fan wants to be thin, famous, a Hollywood actress or all three; hence the reader is given alternatives in case we don’t all have our own gardener, cook or friends with private planes.On that subject, much is made of the fact that Audrey travelled ‘steerage’ for UNICEF missions as it’s a huge sacrifice. Well of course, I’d expect charity work to be done on a budget, unless of course expenses are not being claimed back.It is a stated that despite Audrey’s war time experience of hunger and poverty, she never tried to forge this much success for herself. That just destroys the Audrey image/illusion of wanting to do well despite war time poverty. I hope it’s untrue.There are many contradictions;On one page the author asks if anyone has ever said anything bad about George Clooney as a comparison as the same is true for Audrey and on another she states Audrey would never have dated him! Thank goodness for that.Audrey was only paid to do one advert for wigs with the stipulation (as is often the Hollywood case) that it will only be shown in Japan. Later we learn of her campaigns for Revlon and working with Kevin Aucoin.However, the fun and quirky tips I was expecting from this book are there:Put washed wet shirts in the fridge before ironingJoin first class club if flying economy to take advantage of comfortable lounges before boarding.If you’re germ phobic (I’m not) don’t ever ask for ice!But then there’s ‘Most hotels have speakers so take your own music to make you feel at home’. They do?We need more of these! 5/10Inspiration factor 3/10Read if you’re young, thin, a waitress/actress/ model in LA. Or just to prove me wrong