Ever Present Past: Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 to a wealthy upper class family in Connecticut. Her father was a doctor and her mother was an active feminist who often attended rallies promoting women’s right to vote. Katharine would usually accompany her mom on these outings and they became an inspiration for her throughout her life.

Hepburn was brought up to be a very independent woman. She was encouraged to take up sports such as running, tennis, and golfing. At one point, she even had a tomboy altar ego named Jimmy. Katharine was home-schooled throughout high school and later accepted to college. Being a trouble-maker, she was expelled a couple of times for smoking, drinking, and even skinny dipping in a lake nearby.

She soon realized that she wanted to pursue acting more than anything in the world so she left college for the theater in 1928. After appearing on Broadway, she signed on with a movie studio and by 1932 she had starred in several hit films, including Little Women. 

Unfortunately, her boyish behavior and  5’ 7”frame (she was one of the tallest actresses at the time) confused audiences and the press labeled her as “Box Office Poison.” Yet she stuck by her boyish roots and continued wearing trousers and dress shirts and performed all her own stunts.

Her career was revived in 1940 when she bought the rights to Philadelphia Story, thanks to a little help from her handsome boyfriend Howard Hughes. She continued on to have a film partnership and romantic relationship with actor Spencer Tracey. Their chemistry on the silver screen made audiences fall in love with her all over her again.

Hepburn’s film career stretched in to the 1990s and she still holds the title for most leading actress Oscar wins. She was the perfect combo as an actress; independent, yet desperately wanting to be in love. She passed away in June 2003 at the age of 96 and was buried in the town she was born in. She inspired millions of women to embrace who they were not what they were.

As she once famously stated, “I put on pants 50 years ago and declared a middle road of sorts.”

Such a fabulous statement, no?

Katharine Hepburn Fashion Statements: High waisted pleated trousers, button up men shirts, turtlenecks, no makeup, and socks with sandals.