Queen of elegance, the epitome of grace, fashion royalty, Audrey Hepburn is a style icon with an everlasting influence. (And she’s at the forefront of my list of fashion role models.) From fashion, makeup, and red carpets to dancing, singing, and acting to humanitarian work and world travel, Audrey did it all! She spent a lot of time trying to make a difference. It’s no wonder we’re still obsessed with her!
Timeless means “not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion…”—emphasis on the fashion!— if you want the dictionary definition. If you want to see timeless beauty and grace in action. Audrey Hepburn is a wonderful place to start. What do you think when you think timeless? Art or music, maybe. Audrey is just that, an everlasting work of art. From her precise fashion choices to her range of movies, her elegance for life, she definitely had a really beautiful way of looking at the world.
This elegance didn’t only translate to her fashion sense but it was also evident in the way she carried herself. Audrey was, as Financial Times puts it, “a dancer first and an actress second” who grew up training in classical ballet and even going on to study ballet in London under the direction of Marie Rambert. In interviews, Audrey said that her real dream was to become a prima ballerina. You can tell that her love of dance was special, and you can see that in her onscreen work. Her posture and grace of a ballerina and movement quality carried through into her acting, setting her apart from the rest and putting her in a league of her own.
Doing it “The Audrey Way,” she created her own unique era of style. Designer Vera Wang said of Audrey, “[Her] editing of what she would and wouldn’t wear was very rigorous, very much the way a fashion editor looks at clothes.” Audrey paved the way for new fashion, elegantly stepping outside the box all the while remaining true to herself. This makes her the perfect model for studio looks. After all, she did sport ballet flats as a shoe choice for mane of her signature looks. Put on your ballet shoes! Let’s try three classic Audrey Hepburn movie looks as ballet class outfits.
Roman Holiday, Adventure Audrey
A princess takes off on an Italian adventure in Rome! This is what dreams are made of. Grab your gelato, neck scarf, and a Vespa, and you’re ready to go with an added bit of Audrey attitude. To make this Roman Holiday (an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning Hollywood feature!) look into something danceable, I started with the staples.
“Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself, inside and out.”
– Audrey Hepburn
A white leotard and a long skirt pair perfectly with pink tights and, of course, ballet shoes. I layered a fitted collard shirt and a colorful neck scarf over this base for something that resembles Princess Anne’s look. You can even add a belt to the waistline and curl your hair. Finish off the look with the best accessory you could have, your smile! After all, Audrey Hepburn herself said, “Happy girls are the prettiest.”
The Details
- Royal Couture white velvet “Queens” leotard
- White fitted collared shirt
- Pink romantic length tulle tutu
- Pink tights
- Colorful Rome neck scarf
- Pearl earrings
- Pink pointe shoes
Funny Face, Pink Classic Sparkling Audrey
Couture and pizzazz! Funny Face is a costume designer’s dream. Just about every fashion choice from this 1957 classic is a work of art. There is even a whole song and dance number dedicated to the color pink. Audrey Hepburn pulled off these fashion numbers, designed by Hubert De Givenchy, like no other. Audrey first met Givenchy in Paris before Roman Holiday came out. “Fashion came into my life when I had my very, very first couture dress made by Hubert De Givenchy,” Audrey said. She would go on to work with him for years to come, creating iconic looks.
“Audrey had an angelic quality about her. She didn’t act like she was better than everyone, she just had a presence, an energy, a sort of light coming from within her that was overwhelming.”
– KEVYN AUCOIN
To transform this elegant look for the studio, I started with my Showstopper Pink velvet leotard paired with a delicate white tutu, satin long gloves, and a slick bun for a very Audrey look. Finish it all off with an ornate headpiece that is sure to sparkle with every waltz and grand jete you take! Dance the day away!
The Details
- Royal Couture Showstopper Pink leotard
- White pancake tutu
- Rhinestone halo headpiece
- Sparkling drop earrings
- Elbow-length white gloves
- Slicked-back bun
- Pink tights
- Pink pointe shoes
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey’s Little Black Dress
Get ready for style, grace, and Tiffany diamonds shining in your face. In an article about Audrey’s defining looks, Vogue France says, “From that first lingering shot of Hepburn pausing by the window of Tiffany & CO (croissant in hand), resplendent in pearls, sunglasses, opera gloves, and a long black gown, history was written. This was the kiss of life the fiercely modern black dress needed, paving the way for the ageless, era-less little black dress.”
“Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.”
– AUDREY HEPBURN
This is one of Audrey’s best-known looks, a classic that has stood the test of time. I started with a black leotard as the base for this look, of course, trying to match the boatneck-style neckline of Audrey’s fave Givenchy creation. This neckline defined many staples of Audrey’s wardrobe. Next, add a black skirt for a dress look along with black velvet gloves, pearls, shade, and a tiara fit for a queen (or a prima ballerina!).
The Details
- Royal Couture black boatneck velvet leotard
- Royal Couture black ballet skirt
- Black velvet gloves
- Pearl necklace
- Rhinestone headpiece crown
- Pink tights
- Pink ballet shoes
- Breakfast and coffee
I’ll never forget the first time I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s. My grandmother, a ballet star herself, showed me the film, and I remember being so mesmerized by the elegance and glamor of Audrey Hepburn. I felt like I had reached a new level of fashion inspiration! The rest is history.
Audrey Hepburn has created an eternal legacy of style. She is an inspiration to my own fashion choices and to fashion houses and designers around the globe capturing the “Audrey Style” in their pieces and collections. Harper’s Bazaar calls it an “icons enduring style legacy,” and I couldn’t agree more! Miss Hepburn’s sparkling sophistication about her and ageless trends are something to remember, gracefully leaving her mark of inspiration to the world! An everlasting icon.
What are your favorite Audrey Hepburn looks? Show us! Tag me (@royalcouturexo) and Showstopper (@goshowstopper) on social media with the hashtag #RoyalCoutureXShowstopper to share your “Audrey Style” ballet class looks.
Xo,
Christy Lyn
P.S. Get the look! The velvet leotards styled here are by Royal Couture! Shop the crushed velvet looks now at RoyalCoutureXO.com.
