Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy Dress Sold For Nearly $100,000 at London Auction

Written by Eve Taylor Thursday, 10 December 2009 21:13

LONDON (AP).- The black cocktail dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in 'How to Steal a Million' has sold for nearly $100,000 at auction. Kerry Taylor Auctions says the Chantilly lace dress sold to an anonymous bidder for about $97,700. It was one of 40 items from Hepburn's wardrobe sold off by her friend Tanja Star-Busmann. The auctioneer said Tuesday's sale made a total of 268,320 pounds. It says half of the net proceeds will go to The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.

Audrey Hepburn was not just a film star - she was a major style icon of the 20th Century. Simplicity and seemingly effortless elegance was her trademark. Ably aided and abetted by the young couturier Hubert de Givenchy, she became the personification of chic elegance in the 1950s and 60s. Givenchy said of her “All the responsibility for the way Audrey looked is hers.

She made the selections.” Audrey was the first actress off-screen who was able to play the part of fashion models on-screen and be credible. For `Funny Face’ in 1957 and many of her other major films, Audrey had it written into her film contracts that de Givenchy would make all the clothes she wore and also astutely had it agreed that she retain the majority of her Parisian wardrobe.

Kerry Taylor Auctions is the leading specialist auction house for antique, vintage fashion and textiles.They hold live auctions which include rare antique garments right through to street style by designers such as Emillio Pucci, Ossie Clark, Andre Courreges, Pierre Cardin and Vivienne Westwood to sublime Couture confections by Dior, Chanel and Vionnet. Accessories sold include shoes, gloves, hats, fans, handbags and costume jewellery.

The textiles included are wide ranging including lace, linens, quilts, embroidered pictures from the 17th to the 19th century centuries, embroidered samplers, Paisley, Kashmir and Norwich shawls, Oriental and European textiles and fabric swatch books. We also auction antique fashion plates, photographs and literature.

Visit Kerry Taylor Auctions at : http://www.kerrytaylorauctions.com/  / Copyright 2009 The Associated Press

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