This past weekend, the world lost true icon, with the passing of Zsa Zsa Gabor. The actress and socialite died at the age of 99, at her home in Bel Air, due to heart failure. While the Hungarian actress was perhaps best known for her nine marriages and her penchant for calling everyone “dahling,” her sartorial charm is deserving of some credit, too.
As a celebrity who loved to be in the spotlight, Gabor was notoriously glamorous, often spotted in lush furs, sparkling diamonds and perfect blonde coif. She famously resided in a Los Angeles manse, which was once owned by Elvis Presley, and contained a magnificent closet. According to The New York Times, it measured “30 feet long, 12 feet deep and 14 feet high” and housed nearly 5,000 garments, including plenty of black tie dresses, off-the-shoulder gowns and, we assume, a lot of diamonds.
Though her name might not be as well-known as that of other Old Hollywood starlets, like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, the Moulin Rouge actress was unapologetically polished. She’s often been heralded as someone who paved the way for the Kardashians’ rise to fame, as the world has always been obsessed with her over-the-top lifestyle. Further, she’s Paris Hilton’s great-step-grandmother. All of those factors explain why you should be inspired by Gabor for every upcoming cocktail party, last minute dinner and family get together that will take place before the end of 2016. Click through to see how to properly channel a sophisticated, graceful air (including many strands of pearls and not a single piece of denim).