Ava Gardner: Style Evolution (PHOTOS)

HuffPost Social Reading

Like many unsuspecting to-be stars, Ava Gardner was visiting New York City when her sister’s husband took her portrait and decided to hang it up in front of his studio. The rest is history. The North Carolina native soon signed with MGM Studios and starred in film noir hits such as The Killers and Whistle Stop, and other films like The Barefoot Contessa, Mayerling and Mogambo, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

On and off the silver screen, Gardner exuded a sultry confidence that made her the ultimate sex symbol in the 1940s and 50s. She had an effortless and timeless style and favored items like lux fur coats, sexy gowns and flirty two-piece maillots.

Take a look back at Gardner’s ensembles as we honor what would have been her birthday this Saturday.

And have a look through our many other Style Evolutions here.

CELEBRITY RELATED LINKS YOU MAY LOVE:

Most Stylish Celebrity Mom of the Year - FabSugar

Are These Selena Gomez's Favorite Sandals? - People Style Watch

Rooney Mara's Unconventionally Spectacular Style Evolution - The Cut

15 Sexy Celebrity Christmas Looks - The Frisky

The Hottest New Celebrity Couples of 2011 - Glamour

 
  • Comments
  • 69
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3  Next ›  Last »  (3 total)
photo
butchcliff
The future is unwritten
05:58 AM on 12/26/2011
Always a beautiful woman with a grand sense of her own person. Wonderful
12:15 PM on 12/25/2011
stunning woman great actress
12:14 PM on 12/25/2011
Ava Gardner was one beautiful woman, hard living, hard drinker and a good actress.
10:29 PM on 12/24/2011
Ava Gardner: Style Evolution (PHOTOS)
10:30 PM on 12/24/2011
Like many unsuspecting to-be stars, Ava Gardner was visiting New York City when her sister’s husband took her portrait and decided to hang it up in front of his studio. The rest is history. The North Carolina native soon signed with MGM Studios and starred in film noir hits such as The Killers and Whistle Stop, and other films like The Barefoot Contessa, Mayerling and Mogambo, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. On and off the silver screen, Gardner exuded a sultry confidence that made her the ultimate sex symbol in the 1940s and 50s. She had an MORE
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DebA49
04:07 PM on 12/24/2011
Lovely, simply lovely.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mariannef2
03:53 PM on 12/24/2011
simply stunning!
03:41 PM on 12/24/2011
Simply the best of the best in Hollywood's glory days.
photo
houseiowapark
Live and learn
03:12 PM on 12/24/2011
In Ava's day, I don't think you would see actresses walking around looking like bag ladies on their days off. No woman should look like that in public but there are plenty of women who look like they just crawled out of bed and probably did.
The real heyday of glamour in Hollywood seems to have passed. Sad to say.
photo
houseiowapark
Live and learn
03:08 PM on 12/24/2011
In Ava
s
02:54 PM on 12/24/2011
This is merely a generality......but it appears that today's sexy female stars have a "come and get it" look. In Ava's day, sexy females opted for a "try and get it" look." I like the latter one better......there is more mystique.
02:46 PM on 12/24/2011
She was a real actress. Not like the actresses of today with all their implants, photo chopping and no talent. All the blonds today look alike, you can't tell them apart. All the black hair ones all look like they are Kardashin's. You don't need talent to get into the movies or on TV now days.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
syds180turn
Independent and Proud of It!
02:12 PM on 12/24/2011
She, along with Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly and the list could go on and on, were the epitome of old Hollywood glamour. But Ava Gardner had that accessible...every woman look. She just looked natural and down-to-earth. I've read a lot of biographies on different actors and actresses who were products of the old studio system and her story was the most amazing and interesting. Ava Gardner never thought she could act...very insecure in front of the camera. She also thought that she wasn't very pretty and that her career would come to a crashing end sooner rather than later. And the most intriguing and rather sad part of her life was the fact that she only really wanted to act until she got married and had kids. Having a family was her number one priority and that never happened for her due to many unforeseen factors in her life. But for her entire life, she sought love and achieved it once with Frank Sinatra, however dysfunctional that relationship was. Frank Sinatra to his credit, said before he died that Ava was the only true love of his life. Just goes to show you that fame, celebrity and money can't buy every.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AlexVallas
02:05 PM on 12/24/2011
I met and had cocktails with Ava Gardner at Bricktop's (a bar in Rome). She was with Anthony Franciosa that evening. Movies could not due her justice. She was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and I have had the occasion of seeing several of the top ones including Gina Lollobridgida and the Gabor sisters.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Panhermes
02:02 PM on 12/24/2011
Ava Gardener, knock me down. Sultry, earthy, simmering - ah no, not simmering, a full rolling hot boil-turn up the heat all the way. Ah to be young again, Ava was a natural beauty and a darn good actor - her beauty went way beyond skin deep.
clarissa49
Independent Traditionalist
01:40 PM on 12/24/2011
Ava was a classic beauty and talented actress. She is from the Golden Age of Hollywood!

Bloggers

 
 
Mary Kincaid , Founder and Chief Vintage Crusader of Zuburbia.com

Today's selections include items by Lane, Lyfa, Cartier, Siemens and Kartell. Be sure not to miss the antique Chinese terracotta...

Read Post | Comments
Paulina Porizkova , Supermodel

The after-party was filled by the most stunning costumes and getups I had ever seen assembled in the same space:...

Read Post | Comments
Suki Kramer , Beauty expert; Founder of Suki skincare products

Here are just a few cosmetic trends. Some have come and gone, some have stuck around -- maybe you've tried...

Read Post | Comments
Rochelle Behrens , Founder and CEO of The Shirt

I hope it will remain widely understood that 'Made in NYC,' when it comes to apparel, emphasizes a clear values...

Read Post | Comments
Jill Donenfeld , Founder, The Culinistas

Jessica Barensfeld is a jewelry designer working out of her studio with six lovely interns in Brooklyn, N.Y. That's the...

Read Post | Comments
Matthew David Hopkins , Creative Director, 360 Design Events

Want to throw the party of the season, but feel fresh out of ideas? With Memorial Day this weekend and...

Read Post | Comments
Maria Tettamanti , Author, The Wordy Girl

If I had a quarter for every time I heard, "Miami girls are so tacky," I would be rich. Not...

Read Post | Comments
Franca Sozzani , Editor in chief, Vogue Italia

Each one of us can support this continent without showing exaggerated pity, but believing in the resources of the young...

Read Post | Comments
Glenn D. Braunstein, M.D. , Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai

While I offer no moral nor aesthetic judgment to would-be piercers, they should just be aware that today's trendy practices...

Read Post | Comments
Blue Carreon , Fashion writer

Reed Krakoff is a very busy man. Aside from his creative responsibilities at Coach, he also looks after his eponymous...

Read Post | Comments
Felice Shapiro , Founder/Publisher www.betterafter50.com

It's important for us to go public with our outrage when women are not appropriately recognized for our accomplishments. Let's...

Read Post | Comments
Dr. Susan Taylor , Dermatologist, Clinical Researcher, and Expert on Treating Skin of Color

There have been several recent reports in the media of intravenous infusions of different solution or fluids used to enhance...

Read Post | Comments
Soyon An , Stylist, 'American Idol'

I love working with artists that know what they like because you can really explore other options within the same...

Read Post | Comments
Women & Co , Personal finance source for women

You can have it all without spending a small fortune. If you plan ahead, you don't need to splurge every...

Read Post | Comments

Stylelist TV