Wear Audrey Hepburn’s fashion at your wedding
December 3rd, 2009A collection of actress and activist Audrey Hepburn’s infamous clothing will be auctioned next Tuesday. Among the sleek evening gowns, smart felt hats, and signature flats (worn to minimize Hepburn’s not diminutive 5’7’’ height) an Italian-made wedding dress never worn by the actress will also be auctioned. The dress is a much simpler number than the black-and-white construction her character Sabrina wore in the title 1954 film, but it has a more interesting story. Hepburn was in Italy filming Roman Holiday and took the opportunity to have her dress designed by the renowned Fontana sisters in preparation for her marriage to James Hanson. In the end, her desire to pursue acting made her think twice about committing to married life, and she instructed the sisters to give her dress “to another girl… the most beautiful, poor Italian girl you can find.” The dress was given to impoverished bride Amabile Altobelle who would marry farm worker Adelino Solda and enjoy a happier married life than Hepburn, who married and divorced twice.
I see the dress itself as an embodiment of Hepburn’s enduring style—simple, structured, classic, and sophisticated as hell. For any brides who swoon for Hepburn’s look but would be hard-pressed to afford even a button off of her collection, take heart! With a revived interest in vintage fashion influencing modern wedding designs, it’s easy to find a contemporary gown with some nostalgic flair.
Search for dresses that rest at your natural waist, have a halter a la Marilyn Monroe, or a sweetheart neckline.
Ivory and off-white lace embellishments are feminine, romantic, and affect an attractive antique quality. Whether you choose an all-over lace or small appliqués, check for quality construction and a delicate yet easily distinguishable pattern. You don’t want to look like your grandmother’s doily.
Tea-length, knee-length, and even mini-wedding dresses have left the “destination wedding” market for every-day use (so to speak! if only we could get married every day, right?) and now it’s easy for a bride to look as sexy as those Madmen women walking down the aisle. Here’s an opportunity to show off those killer shoes of yours.
Banish the notion that sleeves are only for the puritanical bride or the bride who wants to hide her less-than-perfectly-toned arms. Whether butterfly, rimmed with delicate eyelets or lace, three-quarters, or tapering to the wrists, sleeves are a vintage alternative to the strapless status-quo and leave a little more to the imagination.
Finally, don’t forget to complete your ensemble with vintage accessories! Some digging in your mother or grandmother’s closet, a local vintage shop, or Goodwill can turn up treasures like hair pieces, combs, pillbox hats, pearls, and fishnet veils. Try some wrist or opera-length gloves for a truly Hepburnian look and smile with confidence in all your wedding photos knowing that your classic look will always be in style.




