Ask women around the world to name their style icon, and they will probably say Audrey Hepburn.The Breakfast At Tiffany's actress – regularly cited as one of the most beautiful women and currently being portrayed by Anna Friel in the West End – has a strong following thanks to her elegant and classic approach to clothing. Imagine then the excitement amongst fashionistas when items from the star's own wardrobe went under the hammer in London this week.
From belts and bags to couture gowns and evening frocks, the vast collection included a number of recognisable pieces including a black Chantilly lace dress. Famously worn by the actress in 1966 flick How To Steal A Million, it eventually went at auction for £60,000.Other pieces up for grabs at the event, which featured more than 35 dresses, included a Givenchy gown with a blue bow, as seen in 1956 film Love In the Afternoon, and another peppermint green number from Two For The Road.The ivory satin bridal gown designed for Audrey's cancelled wedding to James Hanson in 1952 was also included, which was sold for £13,800.
Many of the pieces were in Audrey's signature shades, namely pastel colours, black and ivory and some hot pink.
They were also all fitted to the petite star's size – she was 5 ft 7 inches tall, with a 22 inch waist and 34 inch hips – and illustrated her penchant for Hubert de Givenchy, her favourite designer.
All the pieces were sold by Tanja Star-Busmann, a friend of Audrey's since the age of 15, who revealed how the actress would pass on all her unwanted clothes to her in boxes. "Unpacking them was always like Christmas a thousand times over," she said.
The auction, which took place in Pall Mall, raised a total of £268,320, half of which went to The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.
