Audrey Hepburn’s iconic looks in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, a film that turns 61

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The black dress designed by Givenchy

He has achieved legendary status. Not only because Audrey wore it with innate grace, but because it became the basis on which a professional friendship between the Belgian actress and the designer was built. In the film, Holly Golightly is a dazzling woman, with a mix of mischief and sophistication that makes her irresistible. That first look at the protagonist, having breakfast in the early hours of New York, is the perfect beginning for a film where style not only accompanies the plot, but defines it. The plot, with its delicate staging and the brilliance of the costumes, anticipates what would be one of the most cited films in terms of fashion and cinema.

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Holly Golightly’s wardrobe

Although the black Givenchy dress is the most remembered, breakfast at diamonds offers us a variety of looks that continue to be inspiration today. From Oliver Goldsmith’s sunglasses to the satin gloves and faux pearls, every detail of Holly Golightly’s costume was carefully thought out to highlight the character’s free and sophisticated personality. Even the hairstyle, done by Grazia de Rossi, played a crucial role in creating Audrey’s iconic image. Although Truman Capote, author of the novel, did not see Audrey as the ideal choice to play Holly, the actress became so associated with the character that, for many, she is Holly Golightly. Thus, beyond words, her style continues to endure and continues to be a benchmark of elegance and femininity.

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The perfect fuchsia pink for dinner

Color plays a fundamental role in the film, especially in the dinner scene with José da Silva Pereira, where Holly dresses in a stunning fuchsia pink look. Unlike the neutral tones that predominate in his costumes throughout the film, this vibrant tone, which evokes the bullfighter’s cape, symbolizes a change in his attitude and in the dynamics of the scene, highlighting his bolder and more seductive. The cocktail dress, with a square neck and knee-length cut, becomes the center of attention, adorned with appliqués that shine in the light. The waist cinched with a delicate bow and the collarless three-quarter coat, also in pink, reinforce Holly’s elegance, while the crown brooch and the clutch silver add a touch of childish glamour. This outfit perfectly captures the mix of sophistication and a certain naivety that defines the character, reflecting the multiple facets of his character.

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The look to go out to Club 21

Holly, on her visit to the exclusive Club 21 – a former speakeasy bar converted into a meeting point for New York high society – dazzles with a sophisticated look that captures the style of the time. For this occasion, choose a black round-neck dress with an elegant brooch under the chest and feather details at the hem, a classic piece that highlights your innate elegance. Complete the outfit with her iconic glasses, diamond earrings, black gloves, and a clutch bag, along with a headdress that would set a trend in the fashion of those years. This accessory, known as Jackie either pillbox (named in honor of Jackie Kennedy and her pillbox shape), stands out for a distinctive detail: the rooster antenna feathers in natural black, with a subtle green shine that adds a unique and refined touch to the whole.

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The iconic beige trench coat

In one of the most memorable scenes of the film, Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak (actor George Peppard) return to their apartment after a drink at a cabaret, still wearing their trench coats. As Holly sits on the kitchen counter and reaches for an empty bottle at the top of the cupboard, her beige trench coat takes center stage, adding a touch of laid-back elegance to the moment. This trench coatwhich becomes a key piece in the last sequence of the film, is combined with a simple black piqué polo shirt, a pencil skirt of tweed and matching pumps. Like other iconic film trench coats, such as Humphrey Bogart’s in Casablanca or Meryl Streep’s in Kramer vs. Kramer, Holly’s has earned a place in the pantheon of film fashion, being a symbol of sophistication and timeless style.

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The party at Holly’s house

When Paul moves into the building, Holly organizes a party in her apartment, bringing together young businessmen, artists and bohemians. Despite her surroundings, she never loses her spontaneity, as demonstrated in a deleted scene, where she improvises a dress from a sheet after not being ready to receive her guests. This act reflects his free character and his ability to make any moment memorable. In addition, it manages to maintain its style and charm, turning a casual moment into a sample of its originality and natural elegance.

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Singing Moon River with the towel on the head

Holly appears sitting on the fire escape, with her guitar in hand and a towel tied around her head, singing Moon River. With a soft and melancholic voice, he gives life to this song by Henry Mancini, which seems to be the echo of his own dreams and vulnerabilities. His casual outfit, with a gray sweatshirt and pants caprireveals a different facet to the elegant socialite of Fifth Avenue. This is Holly at her most sincere, a woman who allows herself a moment of introspection away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the masks she usually wears. The now-legendary scene was at risk of being deleted in post-production, but Audrey staunchly defended its permanence. Today, Moon River It is inseparable from his character and from this moment of peace in the midst of the character’s emotional complexity, a reflection of his wandering soul and longing for a home.

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In a bathrobe, but very flirtatious

In the privacy of her home, Holly Golightly retains the same flirtatious and sophisticated air that she carries on the streets of New York. On this occasion, she changes her iconic evening dresses and jewelry for a soft and elegant white bathrobe, which seems to reflect a moment of relaxation without losing style. Her neatly tied hair and carefully curled eyelashes stand out in the dim light of her apartment, revealing a Holly who, even in her robe, is still chic. The tassels on the hood of the bathrobe add a playful and refined touch, a detail perfectly in tune with its essence as a sophisticated and charmingly eccentric woman.

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The most complicit non-quote in cinema

In one of the most memorable and carefree scenes of Breakfast at Diamonds, Holly and her neighbor Paul tour New York together in a kind of impromptu date full of complicity. Although it is not a conventional romantic date, the chemistry between the two is undeniable. She wears a striking Givenchy coat in a vibrant vermilion orange, with puffed sleeves and a funnel neck, highlighting her energy and personality. The accessories – her glasses, a fur hat, heels kitten and a black bag with chain handles – are the definition of the unmistakable style of Audrey Hepburn, who turned this look into an emblem of sophistication and audacity that transcended the screen.

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Accessories are everything for Audrey

For Audrey Hepburn, accessories were much more than just accessories; were an extension of her identity and style, especially in her iconic role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at diamonds. With each long glove, pearl necklace, dark sunglasses and headdress, the Belgian actress transformed these objects into symbols of timeless elegance. Her ability to give personality to each accessory was such that even a towel on her head became a style statement, and pieces such as long black gloves or large, dark glasses became inseparable from her image. She made every detail speak for her, and when remembering any of these accessories, her face and her unique elegance inevitably come to mind.

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With his legendary turtleneck sweater

On her impromptu date with Paul at the library, Holly wears a black turtleneck that has become synonymous with elegance and sophistication, like herself. This lightweight and perfectly fitted garment stands out for its simplicity, something that Audrey Hepburn also valued and used in her daily life. To complete the outfit, add a beige Chanel-style jacket, which gives it an even more touch. chic and balanced. Even inside the library, he keeps his dark sunglasses, an iconic accessory that defines his distinctive style and brings an extra dose of mystery and charm to his character.

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