Lauren Bacall, the subject of a new exhibit at the Museum at FIT, arrived on the scene at about the same time that American sportswear was establishing its roots and emerging as a viable alternative to fancier, and more formal, French fashion. These destined-to-become-classic looks, more simple than showy, suited Bacall to a T—both on and off screen—and enhanced her famous beauty: Those brows! That cascading golden wave! That voice!
Certainly the crisp white shirt had one of its finest moments ever when Bacall wore it with a circle skirt in Key Largo. And who else but she could have given the beret an American accent, redefining it with a houndstooth suit in The Big Sleep? There was, alas, only one Lauren Bacall, but here are five ways to channel her unforgettable style.
