Chic Delights: Monaco

Visiting Monaco was on my bucket list. Luckily, we were able to visit Monte-Carlo, the capital of Monaco with a short train ride from Nice, France. When we arrived in the Monte-Carlo Train station, it was only a one bus ride to see the whole country which is built on a rock and is the size of Central Park, in New York City. The whole country is overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. As Monaco is a Principality now ruled by Prince Albert, the son of the late Prince Rainier and the late Princess Grace. There is a minimum $2 million requirement to qualify to live there permanently which is a tax-free haven in Europe. Well besides royalty, there is their famous F1 race track which is basically the main road ways around the city and the famous Monte-Carlo Casino. If you are double lucky, stay at the Hotel De Paris in Monte Carlo and be seen hanging out at the Cafe de Paris. It doesn't hurt to dream but visiting Monaco was truly a delight and so easy to go around and discover this Mediterranean gem.

Take the time to visit the Musee Oceanographique which is one of the best aquariums in the Mediterranean region.

I'm in awe of the clear and clean waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Royal Palace in Monaco was built in the 16th to the 17th Century.

Francois Grimaldi was the founder of the Grimaldi Dynasty, the current ruling family of Monaco.

The late Prince Rainier and the late Princess Grace.

The royal homes of Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie.

The Cathedral in Monaco where the Royals had their weddings and the place where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are buried.

F1 Racetrack.

Stay at the Hotel de Paris.

Be seen at the Cafe de Paris.

Try your luck at the Casino de Monte-Carlo if you meet the minimum requirement to join in.

Or just stay outside to enjoy the view and these ritzy luxury cars. Where is my chauffeur?

Bon Weekend!

The Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess Exhibition is currently in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from November 4 , 2011 to January 22, 2012. This exhibit was originally shown at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England in 2009. Toronto is the only North American City to be presenting this exhibition. Their Serene Highness Prince Albert II and his new wife, Princess Charlene came to Toronto to officially open the exhibit.

The Exhibit features Grace Kelly's life and transformation from a typical American lady born in Philadelphia on 12 November 1929, then became one of the talented and awarded Movie Actress to a Royal Bride and Princess of Monaco. Her transformation to these different stages of her life was presented through her clothes, accessories, jewelleries, various photographs and personal videos.

I visited the exhibit a few weekends ago with one of my friends. My friend even made the effort to dress like "Grace Kelly" with her fuchsia floral hat, matching fuchsia cardigan and her black and white dress and wearing some pearl jewellery. My outfit tribute to Princess Grace was wearing my pearl earrings and bracelet. I also carried my Christian Dior bag, as Dior was one of Princess Grace's favourite designers.

Grace Kelly Exhibit is officially sponsored by the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.

Grace Kelly, typical lady of her time, wore her trademark white gloves from the time she was a Movie Actress and up to when she became a Princess of Monaco.

Young and beautiful Grace Kelly. Her tall built allowed her to become a model. Then she studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. After graduating, she landed roles in Broadway, where she landed a part in the play, "The Father."

Young Grace Kelly wearing her trademark, Pearls. In 1950, Grace Kelly went to Hollywood where she was offered a contract by MGM. Her First film was a small part in the movie "Fourteen Hours." Then the following year, she was in the movie "High Noon."

A beautiful portrait of the young Grace Kelly.

As a Movie Star, her clothes were mostly designed by the Studio Fashion Designers. She developed close relationships with the Studio Fashion Designers like Edith Head, Helen Rose and Oleg Cassini. Grace Kelly's famous and classic Wedding gown was designed by Studio Designer Helen Rose. In the Exhibit, only the replica Wedding gown is on display. The original Wedding gown had some damages that it cannot be displayed.

To read more and purchase tickets: http://tiff.net/gracekelly

In 1955, Grace Kelly attended the Cannes Film Festival, held in Cannes, France which has close proximity to Monaco. The French magazine, Paris Match, arranged for Grace Kelly to have a pictorial session at the Royal Palace in Monaco. This pictorial session led to the meeting of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. After a year of courtship, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier had a Civil Wedding ceremony at the Royal Palace on April 18, 1956 followed by the Church wedding, on April 19, 1956 at the Cathedral of St Nicholas in Monaco. The Wedding suit worn by Grace Kelly, on the picture above, during the Civil Wedding ceremony was designed by Helen Rose. Grace Kelly's Floral dress that she wore during the pictorial, the dress she wore during her Engagement, the Civil Wedding dress are all on display at the Exhibit.

After her Royal Wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, she became officially known as Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. Then residing in Monaco, she became a full fledged wife, mother and Princess. She had three children - Princess Caroline, Prince Albert II and the youngest, Princess Stephanie. Her style and fashion was also transformed from Studio Fashion Designers to her clothes designed by the French Haute Couture houses like Christian Dior, Yves St Laurent, Madame Gres, Hubert de Givenchy, Cristobal Balenciaga, Lanvin and of course Chanel. Most of her clothes from these design houses are also on display at the Exhibit. Her Tiara and other personal jewelleries designed by Van Cleef and Arpels are also on display. Even her famous Hermes Brown "Kelly" bag is also on display.

Aerin Lauder sums up it the best:'“Princess Grace was a good friend of my grandmother, Estée,” Lauder says of one of the photographs that decorate a table in the living room. “I love her style and elegance, and I especially love this picture because it has her signature.”'

Photo Credit: Vogue.com

To win tickets for two to the Grace Kelly Exhibit with dinner for two at "Luma" at TIFF Lightbox: http://tiff.net/gracekelly/ontariocontest

Contest runs from October 31,2011 to January 15, 2012.

Grace Kelly Style Challenge:

To enter the contest to win tickets for 2 to NYC: http://tiff.net/gracekelly/contest

I learned many things about Princess Grace from this exhibit. As an Actress, I learned about her other movies - "Mogambo" which was completely shot in Africa and starred Clark Gable and Ava Gardner. She even won an Oscar for Best Actress in "The Country Girl." Grace Kelly also developed a close working relationship with Alfred Hitchcock and made several films together like " Dial M for Murder," " Rear Window" and "To Catch a Thief." Her last film before her Royal Wedding was "High Society" and starred Cary Grant. She had many other films which are all presented at the Exhibit. I will try my best this coming year to watch some of her films. I will start with watching " Mogambo" and "High Society."

As a Princess, well, she placed Monaco on the map. Before their Royal Wedding, Monaco or Prince Rainier was not well known in the world. When Princess Grace arrived in Monaco, the whole world followed her and learned more about Monaco. She was active in the Monaco Arts and also for the Red Cross. Princess Grace was also a devoted mother to her three children and accompanied Prince Rainier in their numerous State Visits to other countries.

Princess Grace was truly a beautiful woman. In every clothes that she wore from Actress to Princess truly showed her real personality, natural beauty, elegance and style. Princess Grace is one of a kind.

Source: Book- Grace Kelly Style produced for the V & A ,written by H. Kristina Haugland.