Audrey Hepburn would be so proud: her iconic dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s sparked the phrase “LBD” (little black dress…obvi), and now the term has officially been added to the Oxford Dictionary of English!
I’m not entirely sure what the purpose of that is, as in why would anyone ever look up “LBD” out of curiosity as to what it meant, but it does make me happy. Perhaps happy enough to buy myself a new LBD! A necessary celebratory purchase, of course.
I must have been hiding under a rock. How could I, number one fan of Audrey Hepburn (and her alter ego Holly Golightly) NOT know there was a new book out about the making of the classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s??
June 22 heralded the release of Fifth Avenue, 5 AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman. While the title makes it sound a bit preachy, the reviews are raving and the brief synopses I’ve read sound incredibly intriguing. The book deals with the controversies that surrounded the making of the film (in the original Truman Capote story, Holly Golightly is a blatant call girl), how to turn the screenplay into something “Hollywood,” (Paul Varjack was gay in the book!), Mickey Rooney playing an Asian man, casting decisions (Capote originally wanted Marilyn Monroe, the decade’s sex symbol, to play the lead role)… the list goes on and on.
In a review found on Amazon.com: “Wasson’s words carry the reader from pre-production to on-set feuds and conflicts, while also noting Hepburn’s impact on fashion, Hollywood glamour, sexual politics, and the new morality.” I can’t wait to go get this book today!
I have never wished more in my life that I could be
1. In London for the Christmas season, in this case specifically December 8th
2. The fairy-esque measurements of 32-22-34
3. Incredibly, disgustingly wealthy
Pourquoi, you may ask? Because on December 8th Kerry Tayler Auctions (in association with Sotheby’s) will be auctioning off my absolute hands-down number one idol Audrey Hepburn’s clothing, accessories and other miscellaneous personal items. I die.
Apparently the lovely Ms. Hepburn would randomly hand over breathtaking couture pieces to one “Darling Chum” of hers over the span of her lifetime; some of the highlights up for auction are an unworn Fontana Sisters wedding gown (from when she called off her engagement to James Hanson), a few Valentino numbers, an Elizabeth Arden ensemble…and of course tons of Givenchy: a chantilly lace cocktail dress, a gorgeous coral one-shoulder floor-length gown, and plenty of LBDs.
There will be 36 pieces to bid on, all dated between 1953 to the late 1960s. The big people in charge are estimating the profits from the auction to be around $165,000! And, in the true genuine, selfless Audrey Hepburn style, 50% of the net sale proceeds will go to The Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund and Unicef; the money will directly benefit the two charities’ joint endeavor, “All Children in School,” which aims to provide children worldwide with basic education.
Isn’t it just divine? A sure way to rid yourself of the Mean Reds…
