Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? I apologize again and again, it's all my fault and my lack of a good regular Internet connection. Did everyone have a fun Halloween? Did you flood the streets with Holly Golightlys? :) It seems the costume guide from last year held up pretty well, and while I didn't receive any complaints, can you think of any way to expand or improve it? I'd love to eventually do a costume guide for a number of Audrey costumes, but since Holly Golightly is the most easily recognizable and easiest to shop for, I figured that was the safest bet.
Speaking of being easy to recognize in costume, I found myself without a costume the morning of Halloween, due to a fabric malfunction the night before. On short notice I ran out and got a black turtleneck and borrowed some loafers, and hit Hollywood as Jo Stockton (Funny Face). There were loads of people there, but through the whole night I only heard 10 people (not counting my two companions) realize it was an Audrey costume! I guess I should have tried that outfit the year that Gap commercial came out. Anyway, at a party later on in the night Holly Golightly, Eliza Doolittle and Jo met up:
It sounds like the setup to a joke, but no punchline comes to mind. (By the way, Eliza is played by Kendal, well known on our forums as well as the audrey1 forums.) Anyway, did anyone else dress up as Audrey and meet a twin?
Moving on, I've got some odds and ends to share. First, I've been slowly catching up with the site's email, and had a request that's really stumped me. Hopefully, someone out there can help! Tracey wrote in after seeing a gorgeous poster in a Flor catalogue, and the customer service people had no idea as to where it came from. I've never seen it before, but would sure like a copy! Here's the picture:
You can click on the picture for the full-sized version. Unfortunately, the chandelier obscures all the text, but I'm fairly sure that's French. Does anyone have any ideas as to where this came from? It may be a reprint of a vintage poster, though one I've never seen before. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!
Next up, this year is the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The book, that is. The movie's birthday won't come up for another three years. The book is due to be released soon, with the vague publication date of November 2008, though I can't seem to find it on Amazon yet. Since B@T is short, a novella really, it's matched up with three other short stories under this stylish cover:
And lastly, speaking of reissues, curse Paramount Studios! Just as I'm starting to catch up on my Audrey DVDs, they have to go and re-release nearly all their Audrey films. *sigh* The worst part is that you know I'll buy them all. You probably will, too! Well, if you're trying to save on space and don't see the point of owning multiple versions of one film, you can always go the Audrey route and donate or give away your older versions. I like senior centers, myself, since they're always in need of entertainment and would definitely appreciate some Audrey Hepburn in their lives. Coming November 11th, just in time for the holidays, is Roman Holiday and Sabrina. Marketed under the Centennial Collection, both films feature all of the extras from previous DVD releases, plus some new featurettes and goodies that will hopefully make it worth your while. Just after the holidays, due out January 13th, comes Funny Face and Breakfast At Tiffany's -- yes, again. Both just celebrated anniversaries and had special editions come out, but now it comes in more dramatic packaging, also under the Centennial Collection. There's no additional information on these, so I don't know if there's anything new, but there'd darn well better be. People are starting to think I'm crazy, with three copies of every movie on my shelves!
It seems I've been remiss in my duties again. A lot of women have been searching for Audrey Hepburn, Holly Golightly, or Breakfast at Tiffany's sewing patterns so they can make their own costumes for Halloween (or everyday life, because Audrey Hepburn is year-round!), and I just left you to your own devices. I've felt guilty, though, and all day yesterday I scoured the Internet for suitable patterns to make you dream Audrey costume. Be prepared and take notes, because there's a lot here! I'm also going to make this a regular theme, updating once a season for any new patterns, so check back once in a while for new goodies.
If you want to go all out and be ultra-glam Audrey Hepburn, you might want to try this look from Roman Holiday. Using Vintage Vogue V2239 (below), you can almost exactly recreate Princess Ann's ballgown. I actually bought this pattern for just that purpose, and though I haven't used it yet, all I'm going to do is eliminate the sash and attach a small bit of fabric crosswise on the bodice.
If you are going for a Sabrina look, there are two patterns worth looking at. 1) Vogue Easy Options V8020, is an oversimplified version of the cocktail dress shown to the left. It has a flared, pleated skirt and would look very cute in black (see picture below, left). 2) Retro Butterick '57 B4513, is a much closer copy of the Sabrina dress and my personal favourite. I've been wanting to make a copy of that dress for years, and this pattern is the closest copy I've ever found! See for yourself (below, right).
If you're going for a more dainty, Love in the Afternoon type look, there are a few options for you as well. 1) Vintage Vogue V2960 (below, left) has a deep, scooped neck, fitted bodice, and flared skirt that's quintessential 50s. 2) Vintage Vogue V2267 (below, center) is actually a pattern I own and bought just to be Audrey as Ariane in Love for Halloween one year. It's a very comfy dress, easy to make, with a light tulle underskirt to give the skirt more body without being cumbersome. And it has pockets! 3) Retro Butterick '52 B5032 (below, right) is more of an all-purpose 50s pattern, but still works because it's still in Audrey's line of style. Comes in a more fitted skirt or a wide, flared skirt.
And of course there's the Holly Golightly/Breakfast at Tiffany's patterns! There's a lot, so I'm going to break it down to make it as easy as possible for you.If you're going for a very simple Holly dress, like a little black dress, then try these patterns out. Pretty much all of these would look good in any neutral colour or a soft brown tweed, so don't be afraid to experiment! 1) Vogue Easy Options V2218 (below, left) is actually a set of two-piece dress suits, but the one pictured fits together so well it's worth noting. A lot easier to sew, it's good for beginners and you can mix and match with your current wardrobe. 2) Very Easy Vogue 8282 (below, center left)a very nice sheath dress with matching simple jacket. Just forget about the lace appliqués and it's perfect. 3) Very Easy Vogue V8146 (below, center right) is very similar to the one just before, bit with a slightly more elaborate coat. Still a very easy to make sheath dress, if that's all you need from the pattern. 4) Burda Dress 3477 (below, right) is a sheath dress very similar to the one Audrey actually wears (right). If you were to add a tie sash to the waist and some fringe along the bottom, you'd have the dress exactly.
If you want to do more of a Holly Golightly suit, or know that it'll be pretty cold wherever you are and want a nice Audrey-style coat to go with your outfit, you may want to try Vogue Wardrobe V2988. It has a few dress options or separates, and the coat is fantastic (below).If you want a more generic little black dress that still very Holly Golightly, but you don't really care how accurate it is, here are a couple of options for you. 1) Simplicity New Look 6723 (below, left). Still very recognizable and very similar to some readymade dresses I recommended in the More Holly Golightly/Audrey Hepburn Costume Tips post. (Note: since I couldn't directly link to this pattern, you'll have to scroll about halfway down the page I could link to and click on the picture to see more information.) 2) Butterick Chetta B 3863out of print (below, right). While this pattern is out of print, you can still buy it through Butterick's website. This dress is a very simple set with either a top and skirt or a one-piece dress.
And what would a Holly Golightly dress be without that giant, flying saucer of a hat? I searched through a lot of hat patterns before deciding that Butterick's B4472 (below) would be the best bet for you. It looks to be a lot easier than any of Vogue's patterns, especially the vintage ones, and by just switching the crown of hat A onto the brim of hat C, you have an exact replica of that iconic hat. Just throw on an ivory bit of fabric and you are Holly Golightly!So there's everything you need for Audrey's characters. If you'd like to dress more like Audrey herself did in everyday life, I've thought of that, too. Read on!
A trés chic dress suit is dressy, classy, and versatile. Very Easy Vogue V8319 (below) has a gorgeous pattern with a fitted sheath dress and classy, wide-yoked coat. It could also double as a Jackie O. costume in a pinch. Skinny pants. I found two very good patterns for skinny pants, surprisingly. They were actually called cigarette pants (or trousers) in the day, and it does sound a bit classier and less spiteful than skinny, doesn't it? Anyway, these would be good for either a Funny Face beatnik type costume, or with a nice top it could be a flirty, casual 50s outfit. 1) Vogue V8330 (below, left) is a more modern pattern, but I like that it has three different lengths so you could have actual long pants, capris, or the cigarette trouser length depending on your preferences. This pattern must be made with a stretchy fabric! 2) McCall's M5273 (below, right) is more of a one-length pattern, but it's a little more classic in design with the flat front for a cleaner line.
A perfect match for those ciggie pants or capris? How about a dress shirt tied at the waist, as Audrey was wont to do. If you have a trim waist like she did, this is your chance to show it off -- modestly, of course. Try Butterick B6768 (below), though please note that it's out of print and only available through their website.A flirty little cocktail dress in any colour of your liking. Don't think Audrey limited herself to black! Feel free to experiment with Butterick B6582 (below).And, not to taunt you or anything, but if you ever come across this Holy Grail of Audrey Hepburn patterns, snatch it up! This Vogue pattern set came out in 2000 and wasn't out for very long, and it's extremely hard to find now. I'm guessing it didn't last long because it very closely copies Givenchy's designs for Breakfast at Tiffany's -- a little too closely, if you catch my drift. Check eBay once in a while for Vogue Wardrobe 2396 and you may luck out, though don't be surprised if you get caught in a bidding war. So there is everything ... for now. If there's anything that you think I missed or if you have questions about anything, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'd be more than happy to help.
Helpful hint: if you're going to buy a Vogue pattern, do it through their website! Unless they're out of print, they will always be on sale for up to 50% off.
I've been throwing out tons of tips lately on how to look like Audrey Hepburn or Holly Golightly for Halloween lately, but what about in everyday life? That's where the book Audrey Style comes in. The first Audrey Hepburn book I ever bought, this book is in equal parts a tribute to her enduring sense of style, impact on the world of fashion, and tips on how to get your own Audrey style. There's a section in the middle that gives simple, step-by-step instructions on how to do your everyday makeup to look like Audrey, and you even get a variety of styles to choose from (click for full-sized version):
Experiment with all four! I'm sure one of these will end up being your new favourite style.
I'd just like to remind everybody that two new Audrey Hepburn goodies were released today. The first is the highly anticipated 50th anniversary Funny Face, which has new featurettes, including a retrospective on Audrey and Givenchy's lifelong friendship and partnership. It looks to be at least as good as the special anniversary edition of Breakfast at Tiffany's, so either order your copy today or be sure to put it on your wish list! The holidays are coming before you know it, and there are plenty of new goods coming out to make sure you have an excellent holiday.
The Audrey Hepburn 5-pack is also out today. This is a great gift for the new Audrey fan who maybe hasn't seen a lot of her films or doesn't own any yet. With pretty much all of her classics (Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Paris When It Sizzles) in one pretty box, this is easily the best gift ever. It's quite affordable, too, so it's a great idea to keep in mind when you're doing your holiday shopping or November/December birthday shopping.
Like other Audrey movies uploaded in the past, I don't know how long this will last, but for the time being you can go to You Tube and watch Sabrina in its entirety for free! Part one is below, and the other 10 segments are linked below:
Hurry! Send your friends to watch it too, Audrey fans or not. And while you're there, please drop a line to the uploader, thanking them for putting this film up along with so many other fantastic classics. S/he also has Arsenic and Old Lace, Casablanca, A Day at the Races, Double Indemnity, Citizen Kane, and so many other fabulous films up right now, so enjoy them while you can.
You can tell that the holiday season is coming 'round again, because new Audrey products are coming out all at once now. We've already discussed the new, 50th anniversary DVD of Funny Face coming October 2nd, but also to be released that day is a new Audrey Hepburn boxed set (left). This new set features five great films: Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Paris When it Sizzles. Wow!
This is in addition to the already much hyped Audrey Hepburn: A Life in Pictures book that I reviewed earlier, and a re-release of the wonderful Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales, an audio CD where Audrey reads classic fairy tales. The book and CD both come out November 1st in the US. You can either start saving your pennies now, or start putting together that wishlist and conveniently leaving it out in front of all your friends and family. ;)
Today was the big Christie's auction for yet another round of Audrey Hepburn memorabilia. This time the big seller was a hot pink cocktail dress actually worn by Audrey during filming of Breakfast at Tiffany's, and sold for nearly ten times its estimated selling price of $20,000-30,000 US dollars. The winner of the dress was a European bidder who wished to remain anonymous. If you remember, the same thing happened with the black dress sold last December, and it eventually came out that it was bought by the House of Givenchy, so maybe the identity will be revealed in time.
Also sold today in the same auction was an autographed Sabrina publicity photo, which went for $1,920; a rare photograph of Audrey in Switzerland taken by photographer Sanford Roth, which sold for $720; a photo of Audrey and her Yorkshire terrier Mr. Famous, also taken by Sanford Roth, which sold for $960; and a batch of costumes which included a dress worn by Audrey for the TV movie Love Among Thieves, which sold for $1,920.
When I have a little bit more time (possibly Friday), I'll put up a special page on the website similar to the page I made for the first Christie's auction that will have more detailed information on each item that was auctioned off today, as well as its estimated price and actual selling price. So stay tuned! In the meantime, there are two good articles out about the auction so far: the first is from Rugby Review Today, and the second is from the International Herald Tribune.
and Sabrina
. Marketed under the Centennial Collection, both films feature all of the extras from previous DVD releases, plus some new featurettes and goodies that will hopefully make it worth your while. Just after the holidays, due out January 13th, comes Funny Face
-- yes, again. Both just celebrated anniversaries and had special editions come out, but now it comes in more dramatic packaging, also under the Centennial Collection. There's no additional information on these, so I don't know if there's anything new, but there'd darn well better be. People are starting to think I'm crazy, with three copies of every movie on my shelves!
