Week 7: Breakfast at Tiffany's. Iconic Style of Holly Golightly.

This Themed Week is dedicated to Breakfast at Tiffany's, a film featuring one of my favourite actresses and style icons –  Audrey Hepburn. It is one of the Audrey's most memorable performances and it is hard imagine another movie with a more iconic fashion look than that stunning sleeveless black satin gown. The Givenchy creation, has a beautiful low-cut back, and was styled with long black gloves, large black sunglasses and strands of pearls. 

Tomorrow, I will show you my own interpretation of that iconic look, but today I wanted to introduce you to Audrey's character – Holly Golightly and her tremendous influence on the fashion world.

Today it is hard to imagine anyone else but Audrey playing the role of the naive, fragile call girl with a great joie de vivre, Holly Goligthly, but the author of the novella Breakfast at Tiffany, Truman Capote (read about the book here), originally envisioned Marilyn Monroe playing the part. He was very disappointed when Monroe's acting coach rejected the role. The coach felt that the role for fear that playing an escort would damage the actress' image. Capote thought that Audrey didn't have the sex appeal or enough of a wild free-spirited Manhattan IT girl look about her. In his opinion she was a darling princess of Hollywood; too classy, sophisticated and well-behaved. But of course, Audrey landed the role of Holly Golightly and not only did it marvellously, but added new layers to the character.

The first thing people recall about Breakfast at Tiffany's is THE STYLE. Audrey Hepburn's looks from 1961 movie are copied and celebrated to this day. Givenchy's styled looks from the film have launched trends that are alive and well today, including the LBD and oversized sunglasses. Moreover, the famous black dress was sold in 2006 for a record breaking $914,000 at a Christie’s auction in London. That is the highest price ever paid for a cinema costume. 

Celebrities as Holly Golightly

Countless celebrities have tried on Audrey's iconic look from Breakfast at Tiffany's for photoshoots and even in films. Although, I do feel a lot of these outfits skew towards costume territory and might be more appropriate for a Halloween party, some of the interpretations are as equally stunning as the original. For example, I do love Anne Hathaway's and Natalie Portman's classic Golightly look, and I might be a little bit biased, but I adore Blaire Waldorf (played by Leighton Meester) as Holly in the Gossip Girl TV series.

Anne Hathaway looks elegant and chic as Holly Golightly in this Vogue photoshoot.

Oh, Tina, WHY? I respect Tina Fey, but I find this cover hideous. It looks like a mockery of Audrey Hepburn's character.

Natalie Portman looks stunning in this very fresh and modern interpretation of Holly Golightly's classic Breakfast at Tiffany's look.

Paris and Nicky Hilton are perfect examples that money cannot buy style. I do not how, but the Hilton sisters managed to make Holly Golightly look cheap even while wearing outfits that worth thousands of dollars.

Emilia Clarke as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's musical on Broadway!

Can we take a minute and mention HOW amazing Emilia Clarke is?! You might not recognise her with natural brown hair, but it is actually our favourite khaleesi, mother of dragons, Daenerys Targaryen! Yes, she played Holly Golightly on Broadway in Breakfast at Tiffany's musical in 2013.

Pixie Lot looks surprisingly good as Holly Golightly. I am not a fan of her gloves, but Pixie's outfit is overall is quite glamorous and wearable at the same time.

It is strange to see another British lingerie and nude model channeling her inner Audrey Hepburn and looking so great and natural. The look has a slightly cheaper feel because of the cut of the dress and its fabric, but Keeley Hazell's face is seductive and innocent at the same time, which saves it.

Kelly Brook is one of the lushest women I have ever seen. I tried to find something about this look I do not like, but Kelly looks beautiful 

Barbie has never looked SO good. This doll is on my Wish List!

Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) from Gossip Girl in a dream sequence as Holly Golightly? YES PLEASE!

Jennifer Love Hewitt played Audrey Hepburn in the movie The Audrey Hepburn Story which was enjoyable, but not amazing. Even though Jennifer does bear some resemblance to Audrey, something was missing. Here is a free idea, Hollywood: do a remake and cast Anne Hathaway as Audrey!

Later this week I am also going to show you some of Audrey's best looks from the movie, and select items for any budget, so you can re-create all of them. So make sure to come back because our BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY's WEEK is going to be fabulous!

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Week 6: Marie Antoinette. Interesting Facts

The 6th Week on Pastiche.today is dedicated to probably the most fashionable and famous queen of France - beautiful Marie Antoinette. Her extravagant, over the top lavishing lifestyle, expensive tastes and lively personality made her one of the most scandalous figure of the 18th century. During her reign, the queen spent enormous amounts of money on myriads of fancy dresses, shoes and jewellery and parties. Thus, led to her extreme unpopularity among the common people and fuelled the French Revolution that changed the history of France forever. In 1793 the King Louis xvi and his wife,  the Queen Marie Antoinette have been executed by guillotine on Place de la Revolution,

I have selected the most interesting facts about Marie Antoinette that you might never heard about! Here are

TOP 10 interesting facts about Marie Antoinette:

1. Marie was an Austrian princess.

It is a common mistake when people think that Marie Antoinette was French. She was born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna and was the 15th child of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia – the rulers of Austria. At home they called her Antonia, but after she moved to France, she changed her name to something more française, to Marie Antoinette.

2. She had a sharp mind and many talents.

Future queen of France was growing up showing a great potential. Marie played the harpsichord, spinet, clavichord, and harp. She could speak German, French and Italian. She was also a very beautiful, graceful dancer and a talented singer. The only thing she was scolded all the time for was her poor handwriting. 

3. Marie Antoinette was an ugly duckling. 

Marie Antoinette was betrothed to Louis XVI of France when she was just 12. During the negotiations, the French court had made unpleasant comments about Austrian princess' appearance, noting that her teeth are crooked. Apparently it was a serious obstacle, therefore French doctor Pierre Laveran was immediately commissioned to perform very complicated and painful oral surgeries to perfect Marie's smile. These surgeries were performed on 12 years old Marie without anaesthesia and took several months in total before she could smile back at her haters, showing new straight and beautiful teeth. 

4. Marie became a beauty in her teen years. 

The surgeries and puberty transformed Marie into one beautiful, elegant creature. When she arrived to France at the age of 14 people loved her for her beauty and admired her bright blue eyes, porcelain white skin and ash-blonde hair.

5. It took seven years for the future king and queen to consummate their marriage.

Marie Antoinette and Louis-Auguste were married for 7 years before they finally became intimate with each other. It is believed that the dauphin was suffering from a painful medical condition that made him impotent. The gossip about the "fake" marriage was circulating all around Europe. After many years, the rather piquant and peculiar problem was resolved either by a surgery, or by other mysterious interference in the Royal chambers. Within a year, Marie bore the first princess of the couple's 4 children.

6. Marie Antoinette had a diva hairdresser.

Famous Parisian hairdresser Leonard was so in demand that he could not leave his salon in Paris often enough even for the Queen herself. He had appointments with her only on Sundays at a very strict time.

Leonard is responsible for creating Marie Antoinette's the most iconic hairstyle - the pouf. The pouf was almost like a mood-board, expressing political messages, favouriting people and fashion trends, through intricate shapes and extravagant accessories. For example, Marie Antoinette wore a big sailing ship hairstyle to celebrate the alliance between France and the American colonists.

7. There is a U.S. city named in honour of Marie Antoinette.

The first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory in 1788 was named in honour of France and the French queen, Marietta. Marietta was an affectionate nickname for the Queen. The city hasn't changed the name since and is located in the state of Ohio.

8. Marie was a coquette, beauty guru, life of a party and a trendsetter.

Bathing was one of the greatest luxuries of that time, and while most people bathed once a year. Marie had a daily baths with aromatic oils in her private bathroom. Marie would sleep wearing gloves coated with a mixture of wax, rose water and sweet almond oil to keep her hands soft and young.

Marie Antoinette also had an envious wardrobe as she ordered about 300 gowns a year. She also purchased shoes, jewellery, accessories, hats, make up products, expensive perfumes, essential oils and other "beautiful thing" almost every single day! She was also a heavy gambler and spent close to $7 million dollars by today's standards on her "pleasure house". Her unpopularity with the French crowd was growing as fast as her bills.

9. Marie showed a great bravery and wisdom at the end of her reign.

Before the French Revolution threats, Marie was not heavily involved in political decisions, and as she often wrote, had a very little influence over her husband's decisions. However, when revolution was about to break out in France, the Queen started actively seeking ways to save her family and the monarchy why the King remained indecisive and apathetic. She was meeting with ministers and ambassadors, was writing to other Royals seeking for military support. Many was offering help to the Queen, however she was refusing to escape France without her entire family. Unfortunately, their only attempt to escape was a late made decision, and they were all captured within 24 hours.

10. She remained herself until her very last breath.

Unfortunately, Marie Antoinette was beheaded on October 16, 1793. Her last words are reported to have been, “Pardon me, sir, I did not mean to do it”, when she accidentally stepped on the executioner’s foot while climbing the scaffold.

Marie would like:

Check tomorrow for more curated Marie Antoinette theme inspired items!

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