Trivia About Grace Kelly’s Impact on Fashion

We also have general, movies & acting, and wedding trivia.

Clothing

  • Grace was a patron of top designers, including Balenciaga, Chanel, Christian Dior, Madame Grés, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent.
  • Grace wore a spaghetti-strap column gown by Edith Head to accept her Academy Award for Best Actress. The gown was the most costly Oscar dress at the time, with its aquamarine silk fabric alone costing $4,000.
  • Grace’s riding breeches were made by Ermilio Clothiers.
  • Despite her love for fashion, Grace seldom discarded items or bought new clothes.

Accessories

  • Grace was notorious for purchasing accessories, particularly gloves and shoes.
  • The Kelly bag by Hermès was originally introduced in 1935 as the sac à dépêches. It was renamed for Grace after she was photographed carrying one while stepping off a plane. It is said she used the bag to hide her pregnancy from the paparazzi and owned several of these bags.
  • A scarf crossed under the chin and knotted at the side or nape of the neck is called a “Grace Kelly.”
  • In 1966, painter Vittorio Accornero designed Gucci’s Flora scarf for Princess Grace.
  • When Grace broke her arm, she reportedly used an Hermès scarf as a makeshift sling.
  • Grace had handmade leather sandals from Canfora in Capri.
  • Mark Cross leather goods received a boost from Grace when she carried their overnight case in Rear Window.

Jewelry

  • Grace wore Swarovski crystals in High Society.
  • Grace wore a tiara by Van Cleef & Arpels to her daughter Caroline’s wedding in 1978.
  • In 2007, an 18-karat gold and diamond bracelet-watch by Van Cleef & Arpels that had once belonged to Grace was auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York. It sold for $55,000, surpassing its upper estimate by more than double.
  • The Alhambra jewelry collection by Van Cleef & Arpels, known for its gold-outlined four-leaf clover design, was a favorite of Princess Grace. She often wore three sautoir necklaces at once.

Makeup

  • Grace favored Rouge Dior lipstick by Dior.

Measurements

  • Despite Grace’s private nature and reluctance to have her measurements known, they were included on her modeling zed card:
    • Size: 10–12 (in 1950s dress sizes)
    • Bust: 34"
    • Height: 5'9"
    • Waist: 24"
    • Hips: 35"
    • Weight: 118 lbs
    • Hat: 22
    • Shoe: 6B
    • Glove: 6½
    • Hose: 9½
    • Hat: 22
    • Eyes: blue
    • Hair: blond

Legacy

  • On 15 October 2007, Estée Lauder launched a limited edition shade of lipstick in honor of Grace: Princess Grace Coral. The color was inspired by the color of the lipstick Grace wore on her wedding day. Grace and Estée Lauder shared a personal friendship.
  • To honor Grace on the 25th anniversary of her passing, six top American fashion designers—Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Zac Posen, Ralph Rucci, and Vera Wang—created one-of-a-kind gowns inspired by clothing that Grace had worn. Displayed at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City and subsequently auctioned at Sotheby’s on 24 October 2007, these gowns were part of a fundraiser for the Princess Grace Awards.
    Additionally, a green Givenchy dress with a matching fringed bolero jacket and a rhinestone-embellished Helen Rose gown from High Society were also featured.