Being Holly Golightly: A How-To Guide.

I don't know about you, but to me, Holly Golightly was the ultimate cool girl. She was a pseudo-sophisticate, hurt soul, and free spirit.

In short, Holly Golightly is every girl in the world.
As the somewhat heroin of Truman Capote's short story, Breakfast at Tiffany's (and the character that Audrey Hepburn so famously brought to life), Holly embodies what is inside all of us: a girl just trying to live. A girl that is fighting for the life she's never had, but has always thought she deserved. But there's something about Holly I think we could all learn from.

Holly uses a fake name & refuses to name her cat. This is what strikes me so beautiful about her. She doesn't give her own pet a name. She claims that her cat doesn't really belong to her, just as she doesn't belong to anyone. Holly is young, and hasn't yet found her place in the world - so attaching herself to one identity is a silly idea to her.

Holly can't find anything in her apartment. This, to me, tells the reader (or viewer, if you're watching the movie) that she's ready to leave if need be. She loves New York, but when her time there is done, she'll be ready to leave. Settling in one place is a good thing, everyone needs to feel at home somewhere, but Holly has a thing or two right about not unpacking. Keep a suitcase ready to go at any moment, you never know when a surprise trip will come up. :)

She parties like there's no tomorrow. I think it's safe to say that Holly can throw a darn good party. She knows the right people & they know all about partying. It's so funny to watch the party scene in the movie, because even when the police come to break up the party, she's seen leaving her own party & giving the police direction as to where it is. That's the free spirit in Holly that I love so much. I'm not suggesting you go out and drink until you pass out, but have a girls night, get prettied up, dress like you actually have somewhere to be, and have a good time with your friends.

She's stylish, classy, and always polite. Holly calls everyone 'darling,' and dresses simply, yet beautifully. Holly always reminds me that you can never go wrong with a little black dress and some pearls... no matter what decade it is. Next time you go out with the girls, or with your boyfriend, throw on the little black dress, and look effortlessly cool.

Holly was the ultimate "It" Girl. One of the most memorable things about Holly to her friends was that she was so mysterious; she could keep just about anyone interested in what she was doing, or what she had to say. That is what is so appealing about her character - the mystery that is Holly Golightly. So be mysterious! Go on dates and not tell your life story, go to a party and not talk about yourself the whole time. Ask questions & genuinely be interested.

Doing these things is not that hard, but here's some extra Holly Golightly inspired tips to being your own brand of an "It Girl"

• When you get the 'Mean Reds', hop in a cab and go to Tiffany's! The 'Mean Reds' are when you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Don't confuse the 'Mean Reds' with the 'Blues'.
• Never use slang.
• Drop all bad habits - except losing your downstairs apartment key. Buzz someone in your apartment building to get in, and keep your key for you actual apartment.
• Don't drive, take cabs everywhere.
• Be a free spirit.
• Write in cursive -when Holly sends Fred a letter it's in cursive, its very elegant.
• Keep extra perfume and lipstick in your mailbox for last minute touch ups.

"Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot." - Holly Golightly

xo Haley