Audrey Hepburn remains one of the world’s foremost style icons, known for her grace and integrity when it came to fashion. Audrey made timeless style classics out of wardrobe staples like her black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s combined with ballet flats and a head scarf; such looks quickly became timeless fashion choices.
Hepburn always looked her best in every outfit she wore – from cigarette trousers to gingham dresses and beyond. Here are some of her most iconic looks.
Cropped Cigarette Trousers
Audrey Hepburn is widely revered as an icon of elegance and refined beauty. From her off-duty looks to iconic film costumes and grooming choices, Audrey helped popularise a more modest aesthetic that set a trend away from the overly decorated aesthetics of 1940s fashion – revolutionising fashion while inspiring an entire generation.
Hepburn often donned black cigarette trousers during her 1950s film career. Paired with either a white shirt or long sleeve crew neck top and ballet flats for an effortless feminine look, these chic trousers were often seen in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Charade; still an essential must-have in today’s closets.
Audrey Hepburn’s iconic dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s remains one of the most recognisable in cinematic history, as its Givenchy gown symbolized sophisticated glamour and was widely copied and recreated – Kendall Jenner even created her Met Gala 2021 costume from Audrey’s dress!
Audrey Hepburn made another iconic look her own when she donned the red funnel neck Givenchy coat that she wore in ‘Charade’. Its glamorous red hue stands as proof that one garment can transform an entire ensemble, adding a pop of colour with ease to any ensemble.
Hepburn became known for her affinity towards wool button up Givenchy coats throughout her 50s career, often wearing them to add an air of sophistication and refinement to any ensemble. These coats could often be seen worn during filming of 1963 thriller ‘Charade’ as well.
Hepburn was well known for her iconic Givenchy dresses with their figure hugging sleeves, yet also loved hats! In movies she would sport various styles – most famously Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady when wearing one huge hat in that role – making Hepburn’s hats part of her look and giving it timeless classic appeal.
White Shirt
Audrey Hepburn was known for her timeless fashion sense and elegant demeanor, both qualities evident in her timeless fashion choices. Her wardrobe continues to inspire women around the globe.
Audrey Hepburn made white shirts a central element of her look in the 1950s, just as they were for many other women at that time. Audrey’s elegant yet sophisticated aesthetic was defined by an unbuttoned collar on classic shirts which conjured an image of femininity without showing much skin – offering a refreshing alternative to plunging necklines and shrinking hemlines popular at that time.
Holly Golightly’s dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s from 1961 is an iconic example of Audrey Hepburn’s effortless beauty, wearing a simple shift dress with tulle bow on neckline and long black gloves as Audrey paired them with iconic Ray-ban sunglasses for an unmatched power yet effortless beauty look. Since then many designers have recreated it; but its timeless nature ensures it will always remain fashionable.
Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn made for an ideal pairing, as couturier Givenchy designed all her costumes in numerous films (such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s). Their friendship began in 1953 when Hepburn approached Givenchy about creating her wardrobe for Sabrina; initially mistaking her for Katharine Hepburn at first but ultimately impressed by her grace and originality; their lifelong partnership led to some of cinema’s most exquisite gowns ever created!
One of Hepburn’s most iconic looks was her stunning black Chantilly lace dress and jacket from ‘How to Steal a Million’ from 1966, worn alongside dark sunglasses and heavy makeup for an arresting, mesmerising effect. Paco Rabanne currently makes a mini dress which perfectly captures Audrey Hepburn’s effortless style.
Audrey Hepburn often accessorized her attire with hairbands adorned with bows topped by elegant bows – she would don them from casual jeans and striped twill trousers in Funny Face to her princess-esque black skirt suit in Roman Holiday – this accessory provided Hepburn with the ability to keep her locks out of her face and still look elegant.
Black Turtleneck
Audrey Hepburn made the black turtleneck an integral part of her wardrobe, first featuring it sexily but stylishly in Roman Holiday when she paired it with skinny capri pants and ballet flats that made her look ravishing. Diane Keaton later adopted this style in Annie Hall when pairing theirs with skinny pants; later still it would become popular among students like Anny Hall’s Diane. Additionally it can be dressed up or down depending on your desired occasion; worn over wool skirts or jeans and jacket or even bike shorts it makes an effortless sophisticated yet comfortable look! It makes for great addition to add into white mid dresses or even just for comforting sophisticated elegance!
In the 1950s when Audrey Hepburn was at her peak of success, turtlenecks became a fashionable garment associated with post-World War II cultural renewal in Paris. Audrey Hepburn popularized this look even further when she donned it alongside black capri pants and ballerina flats in Funny Face to garner widespread popularity with young viewers of the movie.
Hepburn broke with tradition by choosing elegant yet minimal fashion of her time, preferring clean lines and minimalist accessories. Her look revolutionized fashion worldwide as women embraced it and sought her style out for themselves.
Hepburn was famed for her timeless fashion sense, from her clothing and grooming choices to her hair, makeup and grooming routine. She favored an understated approach in terms of hair styling – with a short pixie cut to emphasize her strong cheekbones and big eyes, as well as more subdued grooming compared to heavy makeup or long hair trends at the time. Her goal was always to achieve an image that was both evocative and timeless.
Hepburn remains one of the most influential fashion icons today due to her timeless style, with many female celebrities following in her footsteps and adopting her elegant and feminine aesthetic.
While Hepburn donned several black dresses throughout her filmography, one of her most notable outfits is a Paco Rabanne metallic mini dress worn in Two for the Road (1967). This stunning garment embodied powerful femininity and was an amazing example of Hepburn’s commitment to fashion outside of filmmaking.
Little Black Dress
Audrey Hepburn is synonymous with the timeless fashion icon that is the little black dress, making its design one of the most enduringly timeless looks ever. Wearing it as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s cemented this iconic piece into pop culture history as the standard for glamorous elegance paired with pearl accessories; her interpretation and innocent charm made this timeless.
Coco Chanel may have invented the little black dress, but Hepburn’s version has endured for decades. Wearing her iconic outfit along with opera gloves and large sunglasses remains an icon of sophisticated chic; her simple sheath has since remained fashionable.
Hepburn was known to regularly wear her favourite ballet flats from Salvatore Ferragamo as part of her off-screen wardrobe, perhaps to pay homage to her previous life as a dancer. Flats offer versatile yet feminine footwear perfect for everyday use while strappy sandals add extra flair.
Hepburn often turned to her belted circle skirt as one of her signature looks, pairing it with a white button-down shirt and silk scarf tied around the neck for an iconic retro style piece that makes for great photos and movies like Funny Face and Roman Holiday.
Hepburn was known for her impeccable sense of style, including an exceptional talent for finding stunning headpieces that made any ensemble even more elegant. From her iconic tulle bow hat in Funny Face to futuristic egg-shaped ones in Paris When It Sizzles and beyond – Hepburn always found something fitting to add sophistication to her attire.
Audrey Hepburn made history when she earned a top spot on the American Box Office chart for female actors and was later the first female star to make it onto that chart, leaving an indelible mark both cinematically and fashionably. Her effortless elegance and sartorial versatility helped define classic chic; continuing to shape women’s approach to personal style today.
