As for my passion for Audrey Hepburn's movies, I simply wanted to do a small research, on the famous Givenchy clothes and accessories (and others).
I was curious where they are today, and what happened to them.
As we can see in fashion and some influencers, the vintage style is coming back.
People are tired of weirdness and extravagance, they want simple and classy again. They want true, timeless elegance.
That is, in my opinion, exactly Audrey Hepburn's style, the one she promoted in her films, the one that she embraced all her life.
An apparently effortless, careless style, that seems to say: you should just enjoy life and feel good, not dress in a complicated, heavy way.
Don't stress yourself too much with complicated fashion or looks; enjoy life and be happy, instead.
Audrey promoted a healthy, though very elegant style, like for instance simplicity, wearing scarves, trousers, or flats. High heels were never a must for her.
Now, the outfits that Audrey wore in Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, and others, became iconic.
They are reproposed, sometimes in new ways, over and over by today's bloggers and influencers. As a fresh alternative of simplicity and taste to excessive, complicated fashion trends.
Audrey Hepburn's wardrobe was the essence of vintage: simplicity, taste, elegance, simple lines and colors, (like the full-look beige), attention to details, few jewels (double strand simulated pearl choker), the ballet flats, a symbol, often, of life joy and freedom to move.
Some of Audrey's most iconic looks, wardrobe pieces, and jewels, are exhibited around the world.
For your curiosity, I did a small list with where to see them, in case you have the chance.
A rose pink wool coat is to see in Florence, at the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo; and in Tokyo, at the Nihombashi-Mitsukoshi Museum. (onlineonly.christies.com)
An Ivory Silk Gazar Handbag by Hubert de Givenchy, 1962, at the Audrey Hepburn: Una Donna, Lo Stile, Florence, Salvatore Ferragamo Museum. (onlineonly.christies.com)
High heeled court shoes in colors like baby blue satin by Renee Mancini in late '70s
The online Christie's auction also brings to your attention a wide brimmed white straw hat from Givenchy's Boutique, in the late Sixties, and a black pair of velvet trousers signed Ralph Loren.
Three pieces of the famous black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's" are currently in Givenchy's private archive, whilst one copy Audrey took back to Paramount is on display at the Museo del Traje in Madrid and another was auctioned at Christie's in December 2006." (source: Wikipedia)
The legendary black satin dress tailored by Hubert de Givenchy exactly for Audrey's shapes has a history of its own.
Inspired by Coco Chanel, the concept of the “little black dress” emerged in the 1920s.
Hubert de Givenchy designed this timeless piece of unquestionable elegance and fabricated a sheath dress with minimalist cuts on the back for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Audrey Hepburn.(Vogue.com)
The dress is not only a dress, it's the symbol of the Sixties: chic at the front, delicate and raffinate at the back. It is abvious, again today, that this dress style is here to stay, and it will last among future generations too.
And don't forget: for a maximum effect, also use a pair of long, black gloves, as the little black dress, worn in the right way, will never be out of fashion.
Initially, the dress and the entire Breakfast at Tiffany’s wardrobe had to belong to Marilyn Monroe.
Truman Capote, the writer of the omonime book, had Marilyn Monroe in mind, as the image of a call girl. She turned down the role, and director Blake Edwards proposed it to Audrey(Vogue.com)
Audrey made it her own, together with the pieces of wardrobe, the pieces of jewelry, and the entire story.
She transformed the call girl into a complex, lonely girl, with a complicated past.
She made Holly Golightly a pure-hearted young dreamer, who was only seeking for freedom, to have some fun and joy in a beautiful way.
She sang and played the guitar and was lovely at it because she was doing them from the bottom of her heart.
And, most of all, the Audrey- Holly was looking for love, protection and respect of someone to finally call her own, in a beautiful, prosperous life that wasn't going to be lonely anymore.
Every time we think about an iconic black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s we should think about a young dreamer who dared to imagine a different reality, where dreams always come true.