USA: Iconic dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to be auctioned off by Christies in New York

The black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn during the opening scene the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's," was unveiled in New York on Tuesday (October 10) ahead of going up for auction in England later this year. The dress, designed by french designer Hubert de Givenchy for the film in 1961, was modelled for the media at Tiffany and Company's flagship store in New York City, where Hepburn wore the dress in the actual movie. Christie's spokesman Helen Bailey said the dress is one of three designed by Givenchy for the film, but was not the one worn by Hepburn. Bailey expressed the excitement of Christie's opportunity to sell the dress saying: "this is the only dress that will ever come on the market and we at Christie's are truly excited and very honoured." The dress was donated by Givenchy in support of the charity 'City of Joy Aide' to raise money for the impoverished in India. The estimated value of the dress is between 94,000 - 132,000 U.S. dollars (USD). "We are very fortunate as well that Givenchy has donated it as well for this worthy cause and he feels it truly is in the spirit of Audrey Hepburn herself and for her work with UNICEF," said Bailey. Christie's chose to unveil the dress at the place where it all began, Tiffany's jewellery store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Bailey introduced the dress by describing it in saying, "it is one of the most iconic moments film history that is seen outside of Tiffany's in the early hours of the morning, with Holly Gollightly eating out of a paper bag. It is up there in important moments with cinematic history with Marilyn Monroe standing over the subway grate with the "Seven Year Itch." The Givenchy dress is scheduled to be auctioned off on December 5, 2006 by Christie's Auction house in London, England.

ITN Source | October 13, 2006

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