This morning as I was scrolling through the internet, I found out that Audrey Hepburn’s family opened up her private collection at Christie’s London for auction this past week! I love everything about Audrey Hepburn- from her humanitarian effort, to her movies, and of course, her iconic style, which is why I was so excited to hear that a collection of her personal belongings was on exhibit and auction! While I may not be able to purchase any of Audrey’s infamous ballet flats or her Cartier lipstick holder, it was definitely fun to look through and see what a beautiful collection she acquired. Each dress, book, or piece of jewelry has a different story to tell, and I loved getting the chance to take a look into the more intimate side of her life, and to imagine what amazing events or parties she got to wear these incredible pieces. The online sale ends tomorrow (October 3rd) so make sure you check it out!
What I really love about Audrey’s style is her feminine, yet tomboy-like appeal. Audrey knew how to turn a simple outfit into a “look” that people will be replicating for decades. In case you don’t know too much about her, Audrey’s movies like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, and Funny Face inspired the Little Black Dresses, straight necklines, and narrow black pants I see everywhere, especially on so many celebrities. Audrey worked very closely with fashion powerhouse Hubert de Givenchy, and while he almost always designed the costumes Audrey wore in her films, he also worked with her to create that iconic look we all know and love.
While she is most famously known for her performances on screen, something else I really love about Audrey is that she was a huge philanthropist and humanitarian. As a young girl, Audrey lived in the Netherlands under Nazi occupation, and would ballet dance for groups of people to collect money to donate to the underground movement. After retiring from Hollywood, Audrey worked very closely with UNICEF and dedicated the rest of her life helping impoverished children all over the world. She is a true feminist hero!
Here are some of my favorite “finds” from the collection (you can click on the photos to find all the information about each item):
Swizzle Stick | Cartier, circa 1950
Lipstick Holder | Cartier, circa 1950
Crisp White Linen Shirt and Black Linen Trousers | Basile and Marisa Padouan, 1980
3/4 Length Trench Coat | Burberry, early 1980s
Silk Scarves | Givenchy
Pearl Ring and Stickpin | 1960
Check out the interactive private tour here, and make sure to tell me what some of your favorite pieces are!