Fashion Icon - Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn's classic style, effortless beauty, and influence on fashion then and now is why she is a true fashion icon. In the year 1929, she was born in Belgium. She is one of few who have grasped the hearts of the fashion industry. For many years, her polished style sensitivity, and glowing elegance have influenced people such as Hubert de Givenchy, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Isaac Mizrahi, most of who have tried at a certain point to interpret her soul with their clothing and accessories.

In spite of her dead in 1993, her position as a fashion idol still continues. Audrey Hepburn was named by Mary Quant the “most stylish woman who ever lived”. Hubert de Givenchy stated she was “a gift from on high”. She was named unique by Gregory Peck and Steven Spielberg thought of her an angel.

She captured everyone’s attention worldwide with her outstanding performance in the movie Roman Holiday which won her an Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards in 1954.

The Academy Awards 1954

Audrey Hepburn’s 1954 Oscar-winning dress was one of the most unforgettable dresses of all time that hit the red carpet at the Academy Awards. Her winning Oscar dress was the first time she had worn a dress by Hubert de Givenchy to such a grand affair, having originally encountered the youthful designer a year before.

The white floral dress had a fitted white belt displaying Audrey’s slim model-like waist and slim figure. The dress detailed a bateau neckline which was thought of unique for an Oscar gown. Audrey Hepburn’s acting profession progressed fast and her following movie Sabrina as well as strengthening her position as one of Tinseltown’s finest, at the same time initiated her to the designer Hubert de Givenchy to whom she later developed into the designer’s muse.

Hubert de Givenchy carried on designing Hepburn’s own outfits, in addition to those made well-known by herself in everlasting movies in particular Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Audrey Hepburn thought of Hubert de Givenchy as greater than a designer but saw him as a creator of personality. The well-known Givenchy little black dress that distinctively appeared in Breakfast at Tiffany's was put up for sale and it was later purchased for £467,200 in 2006. The little black Givenchy dress is the greatest valued dress from a movie to be bought and an indication of Audrey Hepburn’s permanent legacy as a fashion icon.

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn had a years-long relationship that molded each of their professions. The legendary designer, who established the house of Givenchy in 1952, was recognized for his sophisticated, refined designs that swayed the fashion industry for throughout 50 years and still to the present day. However, it was his association with Audrey Hepburn that secured his success to the highest stage and her own as well.

The designer and actress established a distinctive connection that continued the extent of both their professions, molding theirs careers in Hollywood and the fashion world. Audrey Hepburn, who helped as Givenchy’s ultimate muse from the 50s until her passing in 1993, wore the brand in a few of her breakout performances, particularly in regard to movies like

Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, and Funny Face.

A Fashion Relationship – Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy

1961 - Hepburn in the famous little black dress designed by Givenchy, worn during the opening credits of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

1954 - The actress wore a Givenchy dress to the 26th annual Academy Awards in 1954, where she won the award for Best Actress for her role in Roman Holiday.

1954 - Hepburn in a custom white and black Givenchy gown in the film Sabrina.

Circa 1950s - Hepburn trying on one of Givenchy's designs in an undated photo.

1988 - Hubert de Givenchy receives California's Lifetime Achievement Award. For the occasion, Hepburn wore a stunning red feathered look created by the couturier.

1983 - The designer and actress take a bow at Givenchy's 30th Anniversary Show.

1961 - In another Givenchy little black dress for a Breakfast at Tiffany's publicity still.

Her sense of fashion is best defined as “gamine”; a style that represents a playful but good-looking appeal. This sort of style got immense responsiveness from women more than men due to a lot of women finding Audrey Hepburn’s style greatly simpler to imitate. Audrey displays a short pixie hairstyle, bushy eyebrows, and a very thin body figure. Most of the outfits she wore at the time worked in between casual tomboy-like and classy ladylike. Her favored pieces include high-waisted bottoms and A-line dresses embellished with a thin, tight-fitting belt to highlight her tiny waist.

TIMELINE 

Audrey Hepburn really transformed fashion in her period. She showed us how to try out with different sorts of style pieces and embrace your own physique minus existing to the standards of society. Her beauty not only gleams through her physical appearance besides that through the looks of the people she had aided all during her charitable work. Audrey Hepburn is a work of art herself and her legacy, together in Hollywood and in the fashion industry, endlessly survives.

Another trademark fashion style from Audrey Hepburn was her stylish full-head scarves. When we think about scarves, we firstly think of it as an accessory that a person cloaks around the neckline. In regard to Audrey Hepburn, it was a full-on headpiece that flawlessly hugs her tiny, defined face. She wore her headscarves in such style equally in movies and in real life too.

• 1953 - Filming Roman Holiday in Rome with co-star Gregory Peck.
• 1953 - Arriving back in London following an American stage tour.
• 1953 - In a Givenchy dress at the Oscars where she won the Best Actress award for her Roman Holiday - her first major film role.
• 1954 - In a promotional portrait for Sabrina - the first film in which she worked with Hubert de Givenchy.
• 1955 - In a strapless gown and beaded choker for a black tie event.
• SEPTEMBER 1954 - Audrey married actor Mel Ferrer in Switzerland.
• 1956 - A film still from War and Peace in which she co-starred with her husband Ferrer.
• 1956 - Leaving Italy with Ferrer after filming War and Peace.
• 1957 - In Funny Face wearing a Givenchy dress.
• 1956 - Filming on location in a white dress and pumps.
• 1957 - In a Givenchy black gown and slim trousers for a photo shoot.
• 1957 - In a studio portrait to promote Funny Face wearing a strapless floral gown.
• 1959 - Wearing a dress specially designed for her by Givenchy.
• 1959 - At a Givenchy dress fitting in Rome.
• 1961 - A famous shot - and dress - from Breakfast at Tiffany's.
• 1960 - At a press conference in Italy.
• 1964 - In a typically Sixties shift dress for a photo shoot.
• 1962 - Carrying her dog - named Famous - during a shopping trip in Rome with Ferrer.
• 1962 - At a Hollywood event in a long white gown.
• 1961 - Another shot of Audrey as Holly Golightly for Breakfast at Tiffany's.
• 1965 - Dressed in top-to-toe white - including white sunglasses - for a shoot.
• 1964 - In one of the most famous costumes from her role as Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady.
• 1964 - A film still from Paris When It Sizzles.
• 1964 - With Ferrer at the London premiere of My Fair Lady.
• 1969 - Audrey married Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti a year after her divorce from Ferrer.
• 1968 - At an airport with a Louis Vuitton bag.
• 1966 - Wearing a mac and knee-high boots for a studio portrait.
• 1965 - In a white long-length coat during a visit to Rome.
• 1988 - Boarding a flight in slim-cut trousers and a single-breasted coat.
• 1984 - With son Luca Dotti arrives at Heathrow following a flight from Rome.
• 1984 - In a strapless gown at the BAFTA Awards in London.
• 1969 - Audrey with Dotti in Rome.
• 1992 - At the 65th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
• 1990 - Audrey was honored with the Cecil B.DeMille Golden Globe Award for her contribution to film.
• 1992 - In London at a press conference for her charity work in Somalia
• 1992 - At the 64th Academy Awards with Jack Valenti - the then president of the Motion Picture Association of America.

References

1. Blog.stylewe.com. (2018). A Deeper Look at Audrey Hepburn’s Fashion Legacy | StyleWe Blog. [online] Available at: https://blog.stylewe.com/audrey-hepburn/ [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].
2. Harper's BAZAAR. (2018). A Look Back at Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn's Greatest Moments. [online] Available at: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/g19405875/audrey-hepburn-hubert-de-givenchy/ [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].
3. Hutchings, L. (2011). Audrey Hepburn: Style File. [online] Vogue.co.uk. Available at: https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/audrey-hepburn-style-file [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].
4. RTE.ie. (2012). Fashion Icon: Audrey Hepburn. [online] Available at: https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/fashion/2012/0308/291951-fashion-icon-audrey-hepburn/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
5. The Telegraph. (2019). Ahead of the 2019 Oscars, look back at the most memorable Academy Awards dresses of all time. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/events/the-best-oscars-dresses-of-all-time/the-1954-oscars-was-the-first-time-audrey-hepburn-had-worn-a-des/ [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].