Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn first rose to fame when she appeared as Gigi on Broadway in 1951 - and she has stayed in the spotlight ever since. Her amazing movie career started shortly after this, and even today she lives on in the public eye, not least because of her incredible sense of personal style. Even for those of us who were not alive during her lifetime are aware of this Hollywood legend; surely many of us have channelled her character from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' at a party?!
Hepburn died in 1993, yet Audrey Hepburn clothes are still considered to be the height of sophistication. When one thinks of her, you no doubt imagine her beautiful doe eyes, her short but impeccably groomed fringe, and a simple gown that appeared to be tailor-made to her tiny frame. Audrey Hepburn style dresses are still one of the easiest things you can wear and with the addition of jewellery you can take it from daytime to cocktail hour with ease. This Lindy Bop 'Audrey' Turquoise Polka Dot Dress is simple and smart enough to wear at the office. However, team it with a pair of diamond earrings and some sky-scraper heels, and you can transition from day to night.
Lindy Bop ‘Audrey’ Turquoise Polka Dot Dress - £35
any of the items that Audrey wore on screen were simply costume, but she was one of those rare stars whose on-screen wardrobe and personal wardrobe were closely intertwined. She collaborated closely with many of the costume designers who worked on her films; they trusted her input, as they wanted to help her encapsulate the character she was portraying in her movie. For example, in her movie 'Roman Holiday,' Audrey altered many of the sketches by famous costume designer, Edith Head, to suit her own taste. Audrey also added wider belts and flatter shoes, as she felt they were more in keeping with the movie’s storyline of her jaunt around Rome. No doubt that Audrey would have loved the simplicity of the neckline on this Pink Lemonade 'Audrey' Dress.
Pink Lemonade ‘Audrey’ Dress - £38
Hepburn’s involvement her on-screen costumes continued throughout her career. She came to have great authority over how her characters were dressed, more than any other Hollywood star at the time. This seemed to stem from her great understanding of both the characters she was playing and of flattering and stylish clothing. In fact, she often appeared to be more confident about a character’s clothing, than her own ability as an actress.
We think it is safe to say that Audrey Hepburn can be placed on a fashion and style pedestal even to this day. However, it is also fair to say that she was not really an innovator in the fashion industry, but was more a perfect model for current trends and styles. In the 1950s, it was fashionable for ladies to dress well in vintage tea dresses and due to her chic and sophisticated style, Audrey became a sort of ambassador for the well-dressed ladies of this era. She had an excellent understanding of what clothes suited her figure and loved to accessorise with the latest trends.
The classic silhouette of an Audrey Hepburn Style Dresses are not necessarily adventurous or ground-breaking, but they are a fashion that has lived on long after Audrey’s time. Trends from the 1950s such as, wide necklines and full skirts, are ultra feminine and flattering on every shape, and this is why they have remained so popular. Audrey Hepburn’s fashion philosophy of remaining true to your personality and only wearing clothes that suit you and which are flattering, is one that we whole-heartedly agree with at Little Wings.
If you have any queries about our vintage style clothes, or wish to find out more, please email us at care@littlewingsfactory.com or fill in our online contact form and one of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.