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Lot Essay
Audrey chose this elegant tiara to complete her evening ensembles at premieres and events during 1958-1959, notably at the Los Angeles premiere of Gregory Peck's The Big Country on 22 August, 1958, and at the London premiere of The Nun's Story at the Warner Theatre, Leicester Square, 27 July, 1959, the twinkling headpiece appropriately paired with a regal Givenchy gown. British Pathé footage entitled First Night Sees Stars! shows Audrey arriving at the premiere with husband Mel Ferrer and Sir Laurence Olivier, in aid of the Actor's Orphanage.
The tiara remained in Audrey's personal collection until seven years later she chose it to wear with her pink paillette Belville Sassoon evening gown in Two For The Road. Hepburn as Joanna Wallace is seen wearing the tiara as she and husband Mark [Albert Finney] return to their hotel room following an evening gala as guests of Mark's clients Maurice and Francoise Dalbret. As they merrily dissect the evening, a tipsy Joanna changes into a long white nightgown, the tiara now askew, until Mark seductively approaches her with the line As I said to the Duchess, if you want to be a Duchess be a Duchess. If you want to make love, hats off. Joanna smiles and removes the tiara.
For Two For The Road, director Stanley Donen decided not to use Audrey's favourite Givenchy to design the costumes, opting instead for cutting edge ready-to-wear by all the top designers of the Swinging Sixties. Film costume historian Kimberly Truhler explains the important role that costume played in the movie as Joanna and Mark examine their marriage through flashbacks: Costume changes galore show Joanna evolve from simple college girl first falling in love to jaded wealthy sophisticate wearing high fashion. Style becomes critical to the story as all the cars, clothing, hair styles, and makeup communicate what stage we are in their relationship.
Although Audrey's costumes were clearly well planned and designed over months of pre-production, the fact that Hepburn's own tiara was used in this scene suggests it may have been a last minute addition to the costume, perhaps to strengthen the impression that the couple are going up in the world.
The tiara remained in Audrey's personal collection until seven years later she chose it to wear with her pink paillette Belville Sassoon evening gown in Two For The Road. Hepburn as Joanna Wallace is seen wearing the tiara as she and husband Mark [Albert Finney] return to their hotel room following an evening gala as guests of Mark's clients Maurice and Francoise Dalbret. As they merrily dissect the evening, a tipsy Joanna changes into a long white nightgown, the tiara now askew, until Mark seductively approaches her with the line As I said to the Duchess, if you want to be a Duchess be a Duchess. If you want to make love, hats off. Joanna smiles and removes the tiara.
For Two For The Road, director Stanley Donen decided not to use Audrey's favourite Givenchy to design the costumes, opting instead for cutting edge ready-to-wear by all the top designers of the Swinging Sixties. Film costume historian Kimberly Truhler explains the important role that costume played in the movie as Joanna and Mark examine their marriage through flashbacks: Costume changes galore show Joanna evolve from simple college girl first falling in love to jaded wealthy sophisticate wearing high fashion. Style becomes critical to the story as all the cars, clothing, hair styles, and makeup communicate what stage we are in their relationship.
Although Audrey's costumes were clearly well planned and designed over months of pre-production, the fact that Hepburn's own tiara was used in this scene suggests it may have been a last minute addition to the costume, perhaps to strengthen the impression that the couple are going up in the world.