When you hear the name Audrey Hepburn, what do you think of?
Personally, I think of class, effortless style, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. In fact, the classic star has inspired me in more ways than one.
As each season changes, trends come and go. Recently, while shopping for some fall clothes despite the weather being unreasonably hot for September, I realized I needed some staple pieces in my wardrobe, but didn't know where to start.
Then, I thought of Audrey Hepburn.
The star was known for her classic beauty and elegant style, but when you really think about it, she kept things pretty simple when it came to fashion.
Then, an idea popped into my head. My mom and I borrow each other's clothes all the time. She was bound to have some pieces that fit Audrey Hepburn's style.
So I rummaged through her closet to see what I could find. In the end, I was left with five Audrey-inspired outfits I would be proud to wear again!
Keep scrolling to see how they turned out!
Audrey Hepburn's Iconic Style
Audrey Hepburn was and still is known as an icon of both film and fashion. She defined a simple elegance when it came to how she dressed; the actress made history with her roles in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady, and other feature films.
My Usual Style
This is me. My style stands in huge contrast to Audrey's.
Usually, I stick to leggings, sneakers, and one obnoxious piece (in this case, my palm tree jacket from the men's section).
I guess I would consider my typical style to be eclectic and on the sportier side, so I couldn't wait to see what kind of outfits I might be able to recreate with my mom's clothes!
Look #1
On day one, I emulated a look from Funny Face. I wore a black turtleneck sweater, black leggings, and my own pair of Vans. They were the only shoes in my home that could possibly resemble loafers, and my mom didn't have any. The turtleneck itself is actually a staple in Audrey Hepburn's wardrobe — on and offscreen.
The outfit wouldn't be complete without an itchy pair of fake bangs, now would it?
The only issue?
It was about 86 (million) degrees outside, according to Dramatic Jess. Luckily, this was a Sunday, so I barely left the house and enjoyed my comfy sweater in the safety of my air-conditioned home.
Look #2
On Day 2, I recreated a look that was probably more frequently worn offscreen than in Audrey's films. The movie star loved stripes, and the timeless style is something we still see and wear today.
I don't think Audrey's striped shirts featured flared sleeves like my mom's, but the beloved pattern is what's most important.
Here, I wore my mom's black and white striped shirt (that I definitely shrunk in the dryer by accident), another pair of leggings, and black leather flats.
Audrey was often seen wearing flats, which made them perfect for this look!
Look #3
By this point, I'd learned my lesson and wore something that wouldn't give me potential heatstroke. This one was more of a stretch, but the principle is still there.
In Funny Face, Audrey wears a long white gown with a floral pattern. Neither I nor my mom own a long gown like hers, so I went with a simple A-line white dress with a pretty floral pattern. The idea is very much the same, just more modern — and considerably dressed down.
Again, I paired the outfit with flats, which you'll see a few more times below. As Day 3 ended, I prepared myself for the most crucial outfit of all.
Look #4
When Wednesday rolled around, I was at peak Audrey. It was Breakfast at Tiffany's day!
Let me tell you, this little black dress was a dream to wear. Thanks, mom! It was super-stretchy, long enough for work, and slimming — because when is black not slimming?
Yes, I did get a few giggles thrown my way inside Penn Station, but it was worth it to feel like a movie star.
I even bought a croissant just for this photo.
I threw on some old Halloween costume pearls that were lying around in our basement, a sparkly barrette that was broken and should've been thrown away years ago, and a pair of huge sunglasses.
Well, now I guess I have a new backup for Halloween.
Look #5
For my final look, I channeled Audrey's look from Roman Holiday, which also had some crossover with her personal style.
Audrey wore a lot of button-up shirts styled in many different ways, but in this movie, she kept her shirt mostly buttoned up and tucked into a skirt, with the sleeves above her elbows.
So, I did the same and had the sudden urge to go ride a bike. It's funny what these experiments will do to you.
I don't wear skirts or dresses too often, so three days in a row without pants or leggings was weird but freeing.
In the end, I did miss my own style. Getting up at 6 a.m. feels like much more of a chore when you have to dress like someone else. But that didn't make the experience any less fun!
Final Thoughts
Out of all five outfits, the little black dress was my favorite! It was comfy yet classy. Overall, it left me feeling like a true Holly Golightly, and I would definitely wear this getup again — minus the itchy, fake bangs.
If you plan to test this out for yourself, make sure to SHARE for anyone else who could try it, too!
