From her chunky pearl necklaces to that iconic little black dress, Audrey Hepburn’s sleek and sophisticated style completely embodies silver screen Hollywood glamour, remaining timeless and inspiring fashion today.
I remember the first time I saw 1961s ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. That cheeky elegance Audrey displayed as Holly Golightly was just so captivating and I immediately had a fascination for her bold outfits that were still somehow simplistic and stood out amongst her chaotic life. The use of flamboyant accessories (such as tassel earrings and floppy hats) completely stole the screen and showed how you can have fun with fashion yet still have the ability to look undeniably elegant. Not to mention that Little Black Dress (LBD) she wore whilst munching on a croissant: who knew you could make breakfast on the go look so elegant as well as revolutionise the way women wore black all in one! Her character Holly Golightly could do it all as she paired a striped jumper with casual high-waisted jeans, both of which still remain absolute must-haves in every girl’s wardrobe today.
Likewise, who could forget her numerous collaborations with Hubert de Givenchy both on screen and off screen too. This was a relationship that begun in 1953 brought us snatched waists with voluminous floral skirts in 1954s ‘Sabrina’ which were truly fit for any fairy-tale princess. As well as the bubble-gum pink featured in 1957s ‘Funny Face’, a movie which is nothing short of a fashion show in itself, catapulted the colour into a major trend and displayed how pops of bright colours still look effortlessly classy. Remember, when in doubt – think pink!
Cinema aside, Hepburn became one of fashions biggest muses. Her overexposed portrait shot by Richard Avedon dons furniture to posters as her impeccable style and simplistic beauty continues to inspire. It’s the mix of complete romanticism of the 50s with a twist of modern fun and sophistication that makes Hepburn the fearless fashion icon that she was – and will always be.
By Ellis Diggins