What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh

I’m always humored by the recommendations friends pass along; some seem so out of place. In this case, What Would Audrey Do? came to me via a Twitter comment by Rikomatic stating that he had a “girly book” for me. He declined to answer why said book was in his possession although it appears to have something to do with a book swap/sale or something of such nature as held by his local Quaker community.

Ultimately, this is a little charming piece of fluff. I did enjoy it as a quick read that allowed me to understand a bit about who Audrey Hepburn was as a person rather than as a celebrity. The title though is not quite accurate as the “What” involved seems to focus exclusively on the minutia of etiquette (e.g., sit up straight, eat healthy, don’t kiss and tell, iron your shirts), supplemented by a surface biography of little facts that most fans already know. There are a few instances where author Pamela Keogh does delve a little more into certain actions such as Ms. Hepburn’s choosing to retire and raise her children. While the book gives us a glimpse into the private life of a public figure there are moments where Keogh (who has also written Audrey Style and Jackie Style) should have asked herself, “what would Audrey do?” Most of the time, she manages to avoid getting too personal but does share, repetitively, some information that, albeit public knowledge, could have been more quietly tiptoed around.

For the most part, the book does not espouse copying but rather creating your own classic image based on lessons learned from observing Ms. Hepburn through the decades. From what I do know about Ms. Hepburn, I get the impression she would be inclined to offer the same advice. Sadly, the last few pages veer from this approach and list modern stores and products she might have enjoyed/preferred and addresses to various site-locations from her movies. Listing a great chocolatier (which I agree produces excellent chocolate) is one thing, but the giving of addresses and emphasis on expensive designer goods smacks too much of a Sex in the City tour for mindless followers.

Americans are a culture obsessed with celebrity, and we devour books about out those we worship. Finding that “key” to what makes someone more fascinating than others is not something easily done. We can only guess, and in the end, say it comes down to an innate charm possessed by the figure, and this is precisely what What Would Audrey Do? does. Audrey clearly had that special something that drew people to her and made them love her, and Keogh does try to capture that spirit in print. Wearing clothes similar to Ms. Hepburn’s or sipping a coffee from Starbucks in front of the windows at Tiffany’s will not give the reader that magnetic personality; learning a little more about her actions and motivations in life can, however, help us analyze our own choices in becoming our best selves.

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Tagged as: biography, etiquette, fluff