I’ve been meaning to make Audrey Hepburn my style icon for some time.

She was one of my first “vintage” icons when I was a teenager. I longed for her delicate eflin glamour, though sadly as I have always been on the curvy hips and waist side I was always thwarted in my attempts to appear delicate and willowy by the curse of genetics.

As Holly Golightly in the classic "Breakfast at Tiffanys" based on Truman Capotes 1958 novella

Despite this, or perhaps because of it, I could never really find what I wanted to say when I sat down to write, so she got bumped for other people (Sorry Audrey!)

Then a couple of weeks ago a book landed on my doorstep Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl (RRP is £24.99 but it’s currently only £13.99 on Amazon, get it as a gift and they’ll never know, shhh!)

I was expecting a book of pretty pictures of Audrey Hepburn, but what I got when I started reading was quite a substantial and very interesting biography of Audreys life, interspersed with the pretty pictures, obviously. (I have 2 copies of this book to giveaway, keep reading for details….)

And there she was, my Retro Chick style icon. Like my other icons Audrey Hepburn was a real and flawed human being. It’s not just about the pretty frocks. To have a real impact I find myself attracted to those women who face private and public tragedy with grace and dignity. Who embody their style and go their own way.

In her later years Audrey worked extensively with UNICEF visiting places like Ethiopia, India and the Sudan to raise awareness of the help they needed to fight famine and drought.

Audreys look, both on and off duty, was one of simple elegance. Fashion forward but never brash. The clean lines, nipped waists, bold shapes and simple accessories of many of Audreys outfits have influenced my own style massively over the years.

Whilst her style and fashion were important to her she was never a fashion plate with no other facets to her personality, rather an interesting, well rounded and well dressed woman who changed concepts of feminity and glamour.

THE GIVEAWAY

Retro Chick has 2 copies of Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl to giveaway.

It’s a gorgeous book, large and glossy and stuffed with amazing photos and information that reaches beyond Audrey life into an examination of the role of Films, Fashion and Magazine in the creation of identity in popular culture.

It’s probably unlikely to be a book that you’d buy yourself, but as a gift it’s perfect for any lover of Audrey Hepburn, Fashion or Vintage.

If you would like to win a copy for yourself all you have to do is answer this simple question (hint, check the captions to the photos in the post….)

The competition is open to all UK residents and closes at midnight GMT on 29th November 2009