September 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, September 27th, 5pm Pacific

Audrey Hepburn's Personally Owned Blouse From ''My Fair Lady''

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2018

Beautiful chiffon blouse, with Edwardian-style high neck, owned by Audrey Hepburn and designed under the influence of Cecil Beaton for ''My Fair Lady''. Blouse very closely resembles the one worn by Hepburn in the ''Rain in Spain'' and ''I Could Have Danced All Night'', and is likely a prototype for that item; the only notable difference is a ruffle at the bottom of the sleeves on this blouse. Ivory chiffon blouse is woven with a silk stripe, with cuffs and neck trimmed with a ruffle and accentuated by self-covered snap buttons, which also close the front of the garment. Blouse is couture-sewn, with hand-finished seams, but with cotton facing on the interior neck and cuffs for the purpose of rigidity.

Cecil Beaton won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for ''My Fair Lady'', in addition to the Oscar for Best Art Direction. The epic scope of the production required the design of over 1,000 costumes, and for such an important costume worn by Audrey as Eliza Doolittle, this blouse was likely designed by Beaton himself, or under his watchful eye. Measures 13'' across the shoulder seams, and 27'' long from neck seam to bottom, including 7'' bottom portion for tucking. Sheer blouse is near fine, with a few indiscernible snags. Very nicely preserved by Hepburn.

Previously exhibited in Audrey Hepburn: Una Donna, Lo Stile, Florence, Museo Salvatore Ferragamo; Tokyo, Nihombashi-Mitsukoshi Museum and elsewhere 1999-2001, no. 10.