Audrey Hepburn's Oscar Dress

You know your Oscar dress is iconic when it has its own Wikipedia entry. Enter Audrey Hepburn, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress on her first nomination in 1953 for Roman Holiday

Now, I know what you're thinking, and you already know the answer. Is this a Givenchy dress? Yes, it's a Givenchy dress! In fact, this was the first time Audrey had been seen wearing Givenchy, as their new partnership, solidified by the movie Sabrina, wasn't yet public knowledge. 

Hepburn 1954 oscars.jpg

This is the perfect dress for an ingenue about to take over Hollywood, and it's so perfect for Audrey's delicate frame. The bateau neckline is rare at the Oscars, but Audrey made it her own; and that white floral fabric gives the dress a regal flair (and you can't forget that waistline emphasized by the matching belt). 

Audrey's makeup may be a little heavy for Oscar night, but she'd dashed out of her Broadway show, Ondine, to make it to the New York City ceremony at the NBC Century Theatre in the nick of time. Three days after the Oscars, on March 28, 1954, Audrey won the Distinguished Dramatic Actress award at the Tony's for her lead role in Ondine. Her list of award wins is a long one, and she's one of 12 people to complete the EGOT. 

If all of this isn't enough to sell you on it, consider this: Audrey's Oscar dress was voted the best Oscar dress of all time by Time magazine; it's usually at the top of Oscar fashion lists come Oscar season; and it sold for £84,000 at auction in November 2011. Wouldn't I love to have it!

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