Week 7: Breakfast at Tiffany's. SHOP Audrey's Looks

This Week's Themed Shop is not only a selection of Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired items, but an exciting look at all of Audrey Hepburn's outfits in the film! I have searched and hand-picked pieces similar to Holly Golightly's clothes and accessories for every budget from hundreds of brands. Seize this chance to emulate the most stylish Hollywood icon of all time!

Look 1. The Black Gown

This is the most iconic look of the film. You can already see my interpretation of this look here.

One shoulder dresses can look very sophisticated, especially when paired with big earrings and worn with a neat updo.

I’ll tell you a little secret: I am going to be sharing my own recreation of this gorgeous look with you all soon, so stay tuned! Pink can be a very difficult colour to wear, but a lady in all-pink-everything will definitely turn heads! Just leave the pink tiara at home, please. Only Audrey could pull that off.

How incredibly polished is this look? A simple black dress, big hat and sunglasses - you are ready to conquer the world.

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!

shop audrey hepburn dolls:

Week 6: Marie Antoinette. In Art and Popular culture

I have seen my share of American and European films about Marie Antoinette. One of my favourite blogs, Frock Flicks, made the most complete list I have seen of all the movies about the French Queen (view it here). I have decided to feature just a few of the very best actresses who have been lucky enough to portray the fabulous Marie Antoinette (how jealous I am that they got to wear all these sumptuous costumes during filming!)

My favourite portrayal is Kirsten Dunst in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, partly because the film is so gorgeous. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it!

Marie Antoinette in Art

It is always interesting to compare actors to actual portraits of the historical figures they are portraying. Marie Antoinette had more than her fair share of portraits painted during her lifetime.

Marie Antoinette with a Rose by Vigée Le Brun

Portrait of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France by Jean-Baptiste Andre Gautier-Dagoty

By Martin Meytens

By unidentified artist

Portrait of Archduchess Marie-Antoinette by Joseph Ducreux, 1769
 

Portrait of the Queen Marie Antoinette by Jean-Baptiste Gautier Dagoty

Marie Antoinette En Chemise, Portrait Of The Queen In A "muslin" Dress, By Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun

Marie Antoinette was and is an enduringly  popular figure among artists and photographers. Although she is certainly seconded by Cleopatra, who has inspired an even more impressive body of paintings and sculptures. You can see Cleopatra's representation in Art on my blog here. Regardless, Marie Antoinette, without a doubt, deserves the status of the most fashionable and glamorous European royalty in history.

Follow Ulia's board Marie Antoinette chic on Pinterest.

Week 5: Star Wars. My Endor Look

I won't lie, it has been quite a challenge for me to create a Star Wars inspired look without looking like a cosplay girl. I love cosplay and will definitely try few 'roles' on in the future, however a really good costume takes a lot of time to custom-made, and it is definitely not a cheap option (high quality Jedi costume is,in average, over 300$). 

So I have decided to wear something that I can imagine someone wearing in Star Wars' realm. My choice fell on this beautiful real suede Walter Baker dress.

The rain on Monday was absolutely crazy, therefore my attempt on creating a mesh-up version of Leia's and Rey's hairstyle was a little bit ruined. Despite all that, I believe the photographs turned out to be fun, my hair is appropriate to the theme and the Central Park indeed looks like the planet of Endor. By the way, I left some little silly story under the pictures. Check it out and let me know what do you think :)   

The Force is strong with me! New female Jedi has arrived :)

General Leia's maid did my hair. Do you like it?

C'mon, Chewy. I know you miss Hans Solo, but we need to keep going!

R2D2, did you hear that? I think someone is following us!

Chewy, R2, Run! You need to deliver the message to Luke and Rey! I will distract whoever is out there.

Oh, captain, how kind of you to offer me this Ewok fur jacket! Yes, I am here all by myself. Haven't seen anyone, sir. Would you want me to show you the way to the city? (leads the captain in the opposite direction of where her friends ran). 

Week 5: Star Wars. The Power of Costume Exhibition

I am so excited that Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be available on Blu-Ray tomorrow, and happy to announce that the 5th Themed Week on Pastiche today is dedicated to the Star Wars saga and everything related to it.

Today, I would like to take you to the 'Star Wars and The Power of Costume' exhibition that is currently going at the Discovery Times Square Museum in New York. The exhibition features more than 70 hand-crafted original costumes from all seven Star Wars films, and reveals the creative process behind the creation of characters and their costumes. The exhibition is absolutely amazing, and Ben and I had a great date as we are both huge Star Wars fans. 

Of course, not all of you will be able to visit the Discovery Times Square, therefore I took a lot of photographs (even some shots of few interesting facts I read at the exhibition. Share with all of your Star Wars-fans friends!

Famous and incredibly sexy Princess Leia slave costume

I guess I am slightly attracted by the Dark Side ;)

Do you remember I posted the video of Anakin's and Padme's breathtaking wedding ceremony in the 'TOP 10 Film Weddings' post? Seeing such beautiful intricate costumes from that gorgeous scene was amazing!

Padme's gorgeous dresses she wore during pregnancy.

Padme Amidala's wardrobe, hStar Wars costumes

Wookie!

This is SO Steampunk. Gorgeous! You can click on any picture and Open it in New Tab or Window to see it bigger!

Yoda best!

'Padme's funeral' room at the exhibition.

The tragic death of Padme. The scene and the look was inspired by Pre-Raphaelite's paintings