Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy dress and the iconic little black dress

Fashion of the 20th Century:

An Analysis of an Iconic Givenchy

The past century has been replete with celebrities, which have included illustrious movie stars, artists, and writers, and all of these individuals have tried to outdo one another through the only means of external self-expression available, in addition to their trade: fashion. Designers have bathed in the golden light of fame themselves, and have churned at the wheel of creativity, giving society glimpses of never-before-seen dresses, suits, patterns, colors, etc. In other words, the 20th century was one of innovation, especially in the fashion arena. Yet it was also a century of simplicity, of straight lines, of minimalism, in certain decades. The piece that will be analyzed below is the Hubert de Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, which is an example of the simple, minimalist style, but that has its potency nonetheless. In order to understand how the dress impacts the viewer, two mediated and two unmediated images will be analyzed, and this short examination will contribute to seeing how this modest garment shaped entire generations to come.

The Dress

The Givenchy dress, as aforementioned, is quite simple in design. It is made of black Italian satin and is meant to be a minimalist evening gown. It is sleeveless, floor-length, with a fitted bodice, a skirt slightly gathered at the waist, and embellished only at the back with a cutout decollete. A pair of opera, or elbow-length, gloves, which are also black, accompanies the dress. If the dress is so simple, then, why has it become such a sought-after piece, and why has the look become so iconic?

The Icon

Part of the answer to the above question comes from the pieces that accompanied the dress in the movie, specifically the jewelry and Ms. Hepburn's accessories. Another part comes from the actress herself, which took the dress and truly utilized it to highlight not only the best parts of her body, but also the best parts of her and her character's personalities. The complete 'look' was thus very feminine and very chic. The simple black dress became the 'every-woman-needs-one,' and came to be known as the little black dress, or LBD. Because of its fame in this particular movie, the LBD achieved as iconic a status as Ms. Hepburn, and its fame has placed it in most women's closets as a staple of wardrobe.

How a Dress Evolved

It is little wonder that the LDB a la Givenchy has become so widely known, as it was so well placed with the actress and the movie. The film effused a culture of luxury and the single girl, of making it on one's own, and the era promoted that movement and with it, the style of this black dress. The feminine, refined, ultra chic, almost Parisian style that has lasted for generations, copied time and again by women around the world.

Image Analysis (Images 1 and 2)

The first time one sees the dress in its entirety, complete with accessories, is in the window of Tiffany's (Image 1), where Hepburn breaks her fast. What is immediately captivating is the way the pearl necklace, so distinctly and perfectly placed, seems to blend in seamlessly with the dress. The contrast is almost magical. This is copied again a more recent Vogue issues (Image 2), and the look is carried well, yet by another actress, seemingly without any of the carefree spirit embodied by Hepburn in her original look.

Image Analysis (Images 3 and 4)

In the next two images, the dress is on display by Christie's of London, the house that auctioned the dress for a very pretty sum, and is also seen in sketches made by Edith Head (Images 3 and 4). The reason these images were included were to see the dress without the 'frills.' In other words, to see the dress as it was supposed to be, without any jewelry or personality, and see whether it truly has a charm of its own. Being a minimalist myself, I would respond with an emphatic yes.

Patterns and Details (Images 6 and 7)

A last image to be included here to truly see the incredible style of the dress, and understand why it has persisted for generations, is a copy of the design, rendered in a contemporary design pattern. One can see form this pattern that the garment itself, as described here, is quite complex, yet also only necessitates one fabric. Of course, the most complex part of the garment is the back, which is the decollete shown in Image 7, as seen also in the pattern, for this is the 'surprise' of the whole outfit, especially when not paired with the film accessories.

Conclusions

This paper has examined an iconic dress as worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. The dress has been shown to be just as striking without he accessories added by the designer and the film, in its original version. The dress' minimalist style, as well as its ability to carry itself well through the decades have made it not only one of the most iconic dresses in popular culture, but also one of the most desired. The Givenchy dress has thus affected generations, and has made women strive to be like Audrey Hepburn, in design, and character alike, which can only be a positive attribute. The style of the dress, whether it be feminine or Parisian chic, is sure to be copied for decades to come, as this is such a magnificent piece.

Images:

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Works Cited:

"The Audrey Hepburn Treasures." Google Books. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

"Cinemode: Breakfast at Tiffany's: The LBD That Dethroned Edith Head." Fashion in Film: Breakfast at Tiffany's. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

Duffy, Martha, and Dorie Denbigh/Paris. "THE MUSE and the MASTER." Time. Time, 17 Apr. 1995. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

"Growing Up With Audrey Hepburn:." Google Books. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

"Sale 4912 / Lot 111." Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

"Simplicity 9241 Audrey Hepburn Dress PATTERN Breakfast at Tiffany's." Sew-n-Sew Discount Vintage Sewing Patterns. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

"Simplicity 9241 Audrey Hepburn Dress PATTERN Breakfast at Tiffany's." Sew-n-Sew Discount Vintage Sewing Patterns. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

"Where Is the Real Breakfast at Tiffany's Dress?" Richard Newbold's Blog. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .