1950s Clothing

Hollywood film star Audrey Hepburn’s iconic clothes from the 1950s that stunned cinema audiences in some of the most famous films of all time have gone under the hammer at a London auction.

Renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful movie stars ever, Hepburn was tiny - only 5’ 7" tall with a waspish 32-22-34 inch figure.

Included in the sale at fashionable La Galleria, Pall Mall, were a Givenchy opera gown she wore in Love In The Afternoon (1956), and a wedding dress designed by the Fortuna Sisters for Hepburn’s sadly cancelled wedding to James Hanson, later Lord Hanson.

The sale raised more than £270,000 for Tanja Star-Busmann, Hepburn’s friend from the age of 15.

Friend tells of Hepburn’s generosity

In the auction catalogue, Star-Busmann told how her friend would sort through her unwanted clothes and pass them on to her.

'This became something of a fabulous tradition,' said Ms Star-Busmann. 'Over the years a cavalcade of boxes filled to the brim with haute-couture evening dresses, divine little cocktail ensembles, easy-to-wear silk supper dresses, sensible tweed coats, chic little day suits and glamorous dressing gowns, often accompanied by wonderful accessories, arrived at my door.'

'Unpacking them was always like Christmas a thousand times over.'

Dating from 1953 to the late 60s, the couture collection included belts, hats and tweed coats to evening gowns.

Chic Valentino LBD to lace cocktail gowns

Also auctioned was a bundle of private letters in which the star talked about an early film break, her proposed wedding to Hanson and filming Roman Holiday.

Among the lots were chic little black dresses by Valentino, evening wear by Elizabeth Arden and couture pieces by her favourite designer Hubert de Givenchy.

A Chantilly lace cocktail gown worn by Hepburn in the 1966 movie How to Steal a Million was the centrepiece of the auction and was thought it might make £20,000, but the fabulous dress went for more £60,000.

Most of the 36 items in the auction were in Hepburn’s signature pastel colours or black and ivory with some hot pink to make a splash of colour.