The ultimate little black dress

Fashion editor Bernadette Morra and stylist Derick Chetty discuss little black dresses, and the iconic image that launched this fashion classic, below. Send your thoughts to nakedlunch@thestar.ca or click on the comments link below.

Derick, earlier this week the little black dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's sold at auction in London for the equivalent of $807,000 U.S. Surely that must make that dress, designed by Hubert de Givenchy, the ultimate fashion classic. Bernadette

The LBD is an enduring classic despite the whims of fashion. It's always a safe choice when uncertain of what to wear, it requires little effort in terms of accessorizing and it transcends age and body size issues. I was recently in The Bay on Queen Street and there was an entire dress department dedicated to black cocktail dresses. Obviously this classic is a bestseller. Derick

But $807,000 U.S.? How could a garment have that much value? Bernadette

It was reported in today's WWD that the house of Givenchy was the bidder that bought the famous Audrey Hepburn dress. Since designer Hubert de Givenchy designed the garment for the iconic scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's, it's no surprise they would want to get their hands on that dress for their archives. But I agree that's an awful lot of money. There must have been a lot of feverish bidding. Derick

Okay, that makes a lot of sense. LVMH, which own Givenchy, has deep pockets. And I'll bet the other bidders included the Metropolitan Museum of New York, which would have wanted the dress for their Costume Institute. And I wonder whether LVMH's rival PPR was bidding too, helping jack up the price.

It's great news for the charity that benefits from the sale of this dress. I also think that because the Breakfast at Tiffany dress was such a statement of elegance and refinement, it added to the value. Ever since that film, women have felt that putting on a LBD guaranteed a certain Audrey Hepburn aura of good taste. Wearing that dress in that film on that character, has made the LBD a foolproof fashion choice. Bernadette

Yes, but it walks the line of boredom - especially when you are in a room and everyone is wearing LBDs - as was the case last week at Bloor Street Entertains. Perhaps one should try to inject a bit of their own personality with the outfit. Grand chandelier earrings, elbow length gloves, killer metallic heels or a really ornate clutch. Derick

So true. I saw a photo of America Ferrera, the actress who plays Ugly Betty, on a red carpet somewhere. She was wearing the LBD and pearls and it didn't work. It looked totally generic and dull. Maybe two fashion classics in one outfit is too much? Bernadette

But they sort of go together - a little black dress and pearls. Maybe not all personalities suit the LBD. Derick

I also think that, unless a face, hair or accessories are really compelling, the LBD can fall completely flat in photos. That is why I loathe seeing black bridesmaid dresses. The wedding pictures always look horrible. Black doesn't convey the joy of a wedding day. And put that dress on a real person and it quickly becomes clear, there was only one Audrey Hepburn! Bernadette

Comments

[Claire Jones]

I don't mind you not posting this, but I think you're wrong. The LBD will be forever timeless and it is always a good choice, no matter the function. The accesories used by the wearer, make-up, hair etc. makes an outfit uniques. The LBD doesn't fail.