The actress who made simplicity glamorous, and the designer who dressed her.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 15 November 2026
Who was Audrey Hepburn?
A Belgian-born British actress, trained as a ballet dancer, who won an Oscar for her first leading role in Roman Holiday (1953). Slim, with short hair and strong brows, she looked nothing like the curvy stars of the time, and that difference became her style. Later in life she devoted herself to UNICEF; she died in 1993.
What was her relationship with Givenchy?
She met Hubert de Givenchy while preparing Sabrina (1954), and he dressed her on and off screen for four decades, including in Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. His perfume L’Interdit was created for her. Their partnership is the model for every designer-muse relationship since.
Why is the Breakfast at Tiffany’s dress so famous?
The opening scene of the 1961 film shows her in a long black Givenchy sheath, pearls and sunglasses, eating a pastry outside Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue. It turned the little black dress into a symbol of effortless elegance, and one version sold at Christie’s in 2006 for more than £400,000.
How can I wear the look today?
Her off-duty uniform is easy to copy: slim black cigarette trousers cropped at the ankle, a fitted black turtleneck or a crisp white shirt, ballet flats or loafers, a boat-neck top, a trench and big sunglasses. Keep the palette simple and the fit precise. The ballet flat owes much of its fame to her.
Read on Ayerhs: Hubert de Givenchy: The Complete Guide · The Little Black Dress · What Is Balletcore?