That’s so Audrey

 

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone” – Audrey Hepburn.

She was down to earth, passionate and free-spirited; Audrey Hepburn was an icon in so many ways.

Born on 4^th May 1929 in Brussels, Audrey was a child with big ambitions. With a wealthy English banker for a father and a Dutch Baroness for a mother, she attended private schools in the hope of one day becoming a prima ballerina. However, the older she got, the clearer it was that she was destined star on the big screen.

After a brief apprenticeship in the British film industry and a starring role in the Broadway production of ‘Gigi’, shy and charming Audrey appeared in her first movie role in the film ‘Roman Holiday’ in 1953, which later won her an Oscar for Best Actress. After this, her career was firmly off the ground, and she appeared in Golden Hollywood films such as ‘Sabrina’, ‘Love in the Afternoon’ and ‘My Fair Lady’.

However, it was Audrey Hepburn’s role in the blockbuster hit ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ that showed the world the chic and elegant fashion icon that she was from then on known as.  A simple, classic little black dress, accessorised with pearls and oversized sunglasses caught the eye of fashion fans worldwide, and to this day remains one of the most famous costumes ever. Audrey was slim with a boyish figure, unlike that of the curvaceous Marilyn Monroe and others around at that time, allowing the female members of the public to relate to her sense of style. Her ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ piece, designed by her friend Hubert de Givenchy, was the pinnacle of elegance, yet coming naturally and effortlessly for Audrey to pull off. She mainstreamed the trend of pearls, and women everywhere in the 60s were seen copying the little black dress and pearl combination.

To this day, the trends that Audrey Hepburn created still influence designs today; black dresses accessorised with wide waist belts and silk coloured scarves are still just as popular as they once were. Her style was simple, low key and graceful. She wore clothes which were of a modest and clean cut which also created silhouettes; fitted trench coats and turtlenecks, or playful Capri pants and flat ballet shoes. With her skin rarely on show, she was an icon for everyday women around the world, making men’s button down shirts, Capri pants and ballet pumps look timeless and stylish and easy for any woman to don.

The films that Hepburn starred in throughout her career became more frequently related to fashion, increasing her fan base and establishing herself as a fashionista. The film ‘Funny Face’, for example, featured her as a shy bookshop clerk who was spotted by a fashion photographer and soon was thrown into the world of being a top model -her films lived out the dreams of women everywhere. As well as her fashion-related films, her friendship with designer Givenchy resulted in the creation of many more elegant and graceful clothes. He designed pieces which were not about functionality but about style and grace, with delicate silhouettes and dresses designed perfectly for her tall and slim figure, in-keeping with her own style also.

Even today, women still strive to emanate a little bit of Audrey Hepburn. Rarely does a fashion icon who peeked over 50 years ago still influence the design of our clothes today, having worn such timeless and stylish pieces that they are still yet to go out of fashion. Not only an icon of film and fashion, Audrey was an icon of humanitarianism, retiring in the 60s, and from then on being a devoted ambassador for Unicef. She travelled the world to aid people in famine and war-stricken areas, ultimately winning the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ for her work in 1992, just a year before her death. And in 1993, Audrey Hepburn died of cancer at the age of 63.

Audrey was always said to have been devoted to giving and not expecting anything in return. Her sense of fashion came naturally to her, and her statement pieces still remain popular today. And her graceful, ‘lighter than air’ style and persona will forever be watched in her classic Hollywood films.

“Audrey’s charm is like the Mona Lisa. You can’t define it; you can only experience it” – Peter Bogdanovich.

Written By Heather Barras