This dress was worn by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly during the scene where she returns to her apartment from a party with José to find a telegram waiting for her with the news that her brother, Fred, has died. Upon hearing the news, Holly is devastated and, much to José's astonishment, she breaks down, smashing plates and cups and tearing apart her pillows - the scene ends with Holly lying on her bed sobbing surrounded by feathers from the ruined pillows.

In the film, Audrey Hepburn wears this dress with a matching hot pink coat, shoes and tiara and earrings of pink rhinestones. Hubert De Givenchy designed all the costumes for Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast At Tiffany's but this gown is not labelled and also appears to have been altered to fit Hepburn as well as being altered post-filming, perhaps suggesting that this was not one designed by Givenchy, but obtained last minute during filming. The accompanying still photograph also suggests that Audrey Hepburn wore this gown for publicity purposes, as well as during shooting.

Costumes worn by Audrey Hepburn in her Academy Award-nominated signature role as Holly Golightly rarely surface on the auction market. In 2006, Christie's South Kensington set a world auction record of $923,187 for the black gown made for Hepburn for the memorable opening scenes of Breakfast At Tiffany's.