At Sarah Burton's Givenchy, The Presence Of Audrey Hepburn Was Undeniable
Audrey Hepburn's enduring relationship with Hubert de Givenchy and his namesake house was the first celebrity-designer partnership. Since, relationships like this have become commonplace within the industry, with countless famous faces remaining loyal to specific fashion brands and the designers at their helm.
Yet, still now, few can challenge Hepburn and Givenchy in terms of loyalty and alignment. The pair collaborated across all mediums — from red-carpet gowns to cinema costumes. Decades on, it can be hard to know where Hepburn's influence begins and Givenchy's aesthetic ends. The pair are intrinsically linked together in fashion history forever.
FIND OUT MORE AT ELLE COLLECTIVE
It's no wonder, then, that at Sarah Burton's debut autumn/winter 2025 show for the house, Hepburn's influence was felt. Though there was never a moment of outright referencing (no Breakfast at Tiffany's costumes here), many of Hepburn's preferences were spotted on the runway. There was the trench coat, the black cocktail dress and even the decision to pair a party dress with ballet pumps, that felt particularly Hepburn-adjacent.
Deducing what is a classic Givenchy code and the actor's influence is a bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario. The two go hand-in-hand. So, while Burton's references have come from the Givenchy archive as apposed to Hepburn's style file, the two are so one and the same that it's no wonder we were able find five of the actor's favourite motifs within the Paris Fashion Week show.
Keep scrolling to see the undeniable Hepburn moments spotted at Burton's stellar Givenchy debut:
The Trench Coat
Hepburn wore a Givenchy trench coat for Charade. Burton's take came more voluminous through the sleeve to offer a contemporary silhouette.
The White Lace Dress
At the Oscars in 1954, Hepburn collected her accolade for Roman Holiday in a white lace gown by the French fashion house. More than six decades later, Elle Fanning walked the same red carpet in a white Givenchy gown – and an iteration of it was shown amongst Burton's AW25 collection, too.
The Back-Detail Gown
Silhouette has always been an important focus of Burton's work, and the same approach is set to endure at Givenchy. Two natty mini dresses were decorated with a short cape-like drape from the back, evoking a preferred mid-century silhouette of Hepburn's. Note the ballet pump styling, too, that felt like pure Hepburn homage.
The Great Black Dress
We're dropping the little on the famous phrase as these dresses deserve more. Sure, they might not look alike on first glance, but the black dress as a central tenet of the Givenchy wardrobe makes for a nod to the iconic Breakfast At Tiffany's dress.
Floral Finishes
Feminine details were always a favourite of Hepburn, whether on or off screen. Here, the florals of the Burton gown pull focus to this preference of the late film star. It will only be a matter of time before it gets its own red-carpet moment.
ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
You Might Also Like
