Audrey Hepburn's Wardrobe for Sale

by Lesley Kennedy (Subscribe to Lesley Kennedy's posts)
Posted Nov 21st 2009 at 8:00AM

Audrey's Givenchy dresses (left to right): Chantilly lace gown; turquoise cocktail dress; black cloque silk dress; and pink silk crepe sheath. Photos: Kerry Taylor Auctions

Do you know every line -- and wardrobe choice -- Audrey Hepburn has ever delivered? Do you dream of window shopping in one of her simple, yet oh-so-elegant little black dresses? Are your measurements 32-22-34?

Then it just might be time to pull out your oversized black sunglasses and don your most magnificent pearls, fashion fans because a fantastic lot of Hepburn's clothing and accessories is going on the auction block.

The London event held by Kerry Taylor Auctions in association with Sotheby's is set to take place Dec. 8, but a touring exhibition of highlights will be on display at Sotheby's New York this weekend (Nov. 21-22).

Approximately 36 pieces of clothing, dating from 1953 to the late 1960s -- including a number of chic LBDs by Valentino, Elizabeth Arden and, of course, Hubert de Givenchy -- along with hats, belts and letters come courtesy of Tanja Star-Busmann, a "Darling Chum" to whom Hepburn would pass her unwanted clothes to over the years. (Are you reevaluating your best friends' wardrobes?)

Some highlights:

A Givenchy Chantilly lace cocktail gown she wore in "How to Steal a Million" (estimated sale: $25,000 to $34,000)
The ivory satin bridal gown designed for Hepburn by the Fontana Sisters for her planned marriage to James Hanson. When Hepburn later called off the wedding, she asked that the dress be given away ($13,500 to $20,000).
A Givenchy haute couture turquoise cloque silk cocktail gown Hepburn wore to promote "Two for the Road" ($13,500 to $20,000)
A Givenchy haute couture black cloque silk dress worn to promote the film "Paris When it Sizzles" ($17,000 to $35,000)
A Givenchy haute couture shocking pink silk crepe sheath ($10,000 to $13,500)

The estimate for money raised at the sale is hoped to be around $165,000.

The majority of Hepburn's wardrobe remains in private hands -- held mainly by the Audrey Hepburn Children's Foundation and the Givenchy Archive. Very few pieces of Hepburn's clothing have ever come onto the open market.

Fifty percent of the net sale proceeds from the auction will be donated go to The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund and Unicef for their joint venture All Children in School which aims to provide 115,000,000 children worldwide, not currently in school with a basic education.

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