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Thursday, January 3, 2013

READ THIS: Charmed by Audrey Photographs by Mark Shaw Our Coverage Sponsored by Paul Mayer Attitudes

Paul Mayer's luxuriously, comfortable designs keep women coming back for multiple -- even dozens -- of pairs. Classic, yet contemporary and always comfortable, his shoes are an addiction that we highly recommend. 

A staple of the Paul Mayer collection is the simple ballet-flat, with true ballerina construction for a perfect fit that comes in a variety of colors and materials. A cult favorite is the cozy, a flat with lavender-scent infused soles adding style and fragrance to collector's closets as Paul's designs emerge in sophisticated design incarnations season after season in the most incredible hues, textures and modern innovations in luxury footwear because we know firsthand how incredibly brilliant he is. Here are two recent hot numbers from the Paul Mayer hit parade: 

Mayer founded the brand in 2004 with partner, Jeff Levy. All shoes in the line are manufactured in Spain’s Valencia region, along the Mediterranean coast by a skilled staff of 12 artisans. They craft each pair of shoes with an old-world attention to detail that includes in-house embroidery, quilting and stitching as well as custom tanned leather. This allows the brand to cater to each retailer’s specific demands in with timely and consistent alacrity, with orders completed in an unheard-of 3 to 5 weeks. 

In 2011, Paul Mayer stepped out into Manhattan's Upper East Side with a new attitude, opening his flagship store at 1388 Third Avenue. The store which cleverly resembles a pink and black shoebox offers up to 150 shoe styles, including his popular ballerinas, exclusive designs and more. As an added bonus, shoppers have the chance of running into the designer, himself. Paul's sage shopping advice and style eye has made him the New York shoe lover's best kept secret. When not in New York, Paul can be found traveling to his myriad of stores across the country meeting his loyal clientele or vacationing in his favorite spot, the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach. 

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The Mark Shaw hit parade continues on Whom You Know-previously we showed his work on the Kennedy family published by the Reel Art Press this past summer-and this time we are absolutely thrilled to present Audrey Hepburn filming Sabrina in 1953 as the subject matter. Shaw's photography trumps nearly all other photographers we have written about and we truly regret that we would have never have had the chance to meet him, nevermind interview him as his death (1969) preceded our birth. Over 60 rolls of film were shot and a small percentage were published back in the day by LIFE but the majority were rediscovered in recent years, adding even more star power behind the shine of both Audrey Hepburn and Mark Shaw, who clearly worked well together. These photographs which are new to the public are sure to impress all who see them and we absolutely adored all aspects of this book even when Audrey is washing her hair or her car. The down-to-earth quality of this work is commendable and will appeal to a wide audience. We learned that Shaw was a highly decorated WWII airforce pilot as well.

"What is needed in order to really become a star is an extra element which God gives you or doesn't give you. You're born with it. You cannot learn it. God kissed Audrey Hepburn on the cheek and there she was."
-Billy Wilder

"In a cruel and imperfect world, she was living proof that God could still create perfection."
-Rex Reed

"There is not a woman alive who does not dream of looking like Audrey Hepburn."
-Hubert de Givenchy

Our esteemed panel adds:

In my business, one of the oft-cited references is Audrey Hepburn. In a world of pop cultural icons, she reigns still in the hearts of the hat-loving, the little black dress fans, and the gamine hair cut followers.Make it like Audrey's, is a battle cry often heard in the fashion industry. Like Grace Kelly, she is an indisputable figure of soft and gentle womanhood. From girl to movie star, Audrey Hepburn rings true today, as much for her composed sense of style as her demeanor on screen. She gave us light, love and longing, with a knife edge of proper behaviour and comportment. The photographer, Mark Shaw captured an important moment in Miss Hepburn's live and career as she was filming Sabrina. As she was living out our fantasies in William Holden's arms, Mr. Shaw was getting the grist of back stage, behind the scenes true life of a brilliant woman in action. For those enticed by reality shows, this is it. Piquant in a man's shirt, propped on her bicycle, or balanced in her definitive ballerinas, Audrey Hepburn could light up a scene by merely tilting her head. Insight Editions give us : Charmed by Audrey, Life on the Set of Sabrina, as a poignant moment in the life of one of our favorite movies, and one of our most beloved stars.

Audrey Hepburn is one of the most beloved actresses of all time. We have all marveled at her beauty and charm. Today, all we have is what she left us in films and photos. If you are an Audrey Hepburn fan, and you think you have seen all that has been published of her, now there is more! In 1953 Mark Shaw was assigned by LIFE magazine to photograph Ms. Hepburn for a feature. A majority of the negatives from that photo shoot were misplaced at the time. Over fifty years later, they have been found! Insight Editions has put them all together in their new book, Charmed by Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina. The book is packed with superb photos of the beautiful and elegant star. Many of them are not posed, so you can see the actress in a natural light. Most of the photos are also accompanied with quotations by the actress or by those who were close to her. If you are an Audrey Hepburn fan, this book is an absolute must-have. It really has been a joy to read through it!

I have heard many wonderful things about Audrey Hepburn's movie Sabrina, but have not had the pleasure of seeing this movie. I loved the other movies I've seen with her in it. When I saw Charmed by Audrey: Life on the set of Sabrina, I couldn't wait to get reading. What I found interesting is how she was known as "The Monster" because of her devotion to her work. I LOVED all the photographs. I couldn't get enough. I could look at those photographs forever. I also loved reading all of the quotes about and by her. If you know of any Audrey Hepburn fans, this book is a must have for their collections! I highly recommend it!

Audrey Hepburn - sweet yet sophisticated, innocent yet worldly, and above all, absolutely adored by millions of fans and friends around the world. In Charmed by Audrey: Life on the set of Sabrina, published by Insight Editions, readers are treated to a wealth of rare photos from photographer Mark Shaw. In 1953, Shaw was assigned by LIFE magazine to spend two weeks photographing Audrey on the set of Sabrina. Over the two weeks, he went through over 60 rolls of film, capturing the rising star's grace, poise, charm, and beauty. Although some of the photos were used for LIFE Magazine's spread, the negatives for the rest were misplaced and only rediscovered 50 years later! So now, for the first time, many of those charming photographs are seeing the light of day in Charmed by Audrey. It is a fascinating glimpse into the world of the iconic actress, and includes several candid shots, which are simply captivating. The photos are accompanied by quotes from others whose lives she'd touched, including William Holden, Gregory Peck, Rex Reed, and Richard Dreyfuss, among others. There are also several quotes from Audrey, herself, which enhance the photos by infusing them with even more personality. Charmed by Audrey is a beautiful book, and a lovely celebration of the sweetheart of American cinema!

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In 1953 Paramount was making a film with a new actress named Audrey Hepburn. LIFE magazine assigned one of their top young photographers, Mark Shaw, to shoot a feature and he spent weeks with Audrey on and round the set. Mark Shaw's access to Audrey Hepburn, unheard of today, resulted in an amazing array of photos and over 60 rolls of film that captured the charm and grace on set and in everyday life. While the handful of photographs published in LIFEfor the Sabrina article have lived on as beloved images of Hepburn, the majority of the negatives were misplaced and never published. Rediscovered 50 years later, these numerous never-before-seen photographs complete one of the most intimate looks at Hepburn's youth and rising star.


Mark Shaw is best known for his photographs of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, which he shot originally for LIFEmagazine and later as the Kennedys' "unofficial" family photographer. Mark Shaw began working for LIFE in 1952, shooting 27 covers and more than 100 stories. As a leading fashion photographer, he also worked for Harper's Bazaar, Mademoiselle and a host of other publications. He was one of the first photographers to use color when shooting the runways and "backstage" at the couture shows. Shaw worked as a top print advertising photographer until his untimely death in 1969 at the age of 47.


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