Breakfast at Tiffany's: Audrey Hepburn, the Little Black Dress and the Necklace That Changed Fashion Forever
It is 4:30 in the morning on Fifth Avenue, New York City. A yellow taxi pulls up to the curb outside Tiffany and Co. A woman steps out tall, impossibly elegant, dressed in a floor-length black Givenchy gown, long black gloves, oversized sunglasses, hair swept into a perfect chignon, a five-strand pearl necklace at her throat and a Danish pastry in her hand. She walks slowly to the window of the closed jewelry store, gazes at the diamonds inside, and takes a sip of coffee. In less than two minutes of silent film, Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's created the single most iconic fashion moment in cinema history. No dialogue. No music yet. Just a woman, a dress, a necklace, and a dream. More than 60 years later, that image remains the gold standard of feminine elegance.
Table of Contents
- The Movie
- Audrey Hepburn
- The Opening Scene
- The Givenchy Dress
- The Pearl Necklace
- All the Jewelry in the Film
- Who Was Holly Golightly?
- The Fashion Legacy
- How to Wear It Today
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
- Shop the Look at KIMLUD
Breakfast at Tiffany's: The Movie
Breakfast at Tiffany's was released on October 5, 1961, directed by Blake Edwards and produced by Paramount Pictures. Based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella, it starred Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and George Peppard as Paul Varjak. Capote famously wanted Marilyn Monroe for the role. The film earned five Academy Award nominations, winning two: Best Original Score for Henry Mancini's Moon River and Best Original Song. It grossed over $14 million against a $2.5 million budget.
Audrey Hepburn: The Woman Behind Holly Golightly
Audrey Kathleen Ruston was born on May 4, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium. During World War II she survived the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Her breakthrough came in 1953 winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday at age 24. She went on to achieve the EGOT — Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar. Her partnership with Hubert de Givenchy, which began in 1953, defined a new kind of elegance: spare, modern, architectural, and deeply feminine.
The Opening Scene: Two Minutes That Changed Fashion
Filmed on Fifth Avenue at 4 AM, the scene shows Holly stepping from a taxi in full black-tie dress, eating a pastry outside the closed Tiffany's store. The genius is its contradiction: the most glamorous woman in the most lonely situation. The jewelry and the dress are armor. The empty street is the truth.
The Givenchy Dress: A Fashion Revolution
A sleeveless floor-length column in black satin-faced organza, radical in its simplicity. No embroidery, no beading, no ruffles. It established the little black dress as the definitive statement of feminine sophistication. In 2006 the original sold at Christie's London for 467,200 pounds, proceeds going to the City of Joy Aid charity in India.
The Pearl Necklace: Symbol of Aspiration
Five strands of creamy white cultured pearls graduated in size, sitting high on the neck just below the collarbone. Pearls carry centuries of symbolic weight: purity, femininity, mystery, and aspiration. For Holly Golightly, a girl from rural Texas reinventing herself as a New York socialite, pearls were the perfect costume. After the film's release, pearl necklaces experienced a surge in popularity that has never fully subsided.
All the Jewelry in Breakfast at Tiffany's
Opening scene: five-strand pearl necklace, pearl drop earrings, rhinestone tiara, long black opera gloves. At Tiffany's: a Cracker Jack ring engraved for $10 — revealing Holly's true tender nature. Party scene: bold statement necklace with cocktail dress. Quiet scenes: minimal jewelry. Throughout the film jewelry is a narrative device — elaborate when performing, simple when genuine.
Who Was Holly Golightly?
In Capote's novella, Holly is Lulamae Barnes from rural Texas, reinvented as a New York socialite. She calls her anxiety the mean reds and treats it by visiting Tiffany's. Nothing very bad could happen to you there, she says. Not at Tiffany's. The jewelry is not vanity. It is survival.
The Fashion Legacy: 60 Years of Influence
The little black dress became the definitive statement of feminine power globally. Pearl jewelry has experienced multiple revivals tied to the film. The chignon and French twist remain among the most requested formal hairstyles worldwide. Designers citing the film as direct influence include Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, and Stella McCartney.
How to Wear the Holly Golightly Look Today
Sleeveless little black dress in satin, crepe, or structured jersey. Multi-strand or single-strand pearl necklace worn high on the neck. Chignon or French twist. Pearl stud earrings. Defined brows, winged liner, red or nude lip. Modern update: sleek blazer, ankle-strap heels, structured mini bag. The pearl necklace is always the anchor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What necklace did Audrey Hepburn wear in Breakfast at Tiffany's?
Audrey Hepburn wore a five-strand cultured pearl necklace in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). It sat high on the neck just below the collarbone, creating a dramatic frame against the black Givenchy gown.
Who designed the dress Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's?
The iconic black gown was designed by Hubert de Givenchy. A sleeveless floor-length column in black satin-faced organza. In December 2006 the original sold at Christie's London for 467,200 pounds.
When was Breakfast at Tiffany's released?
Breakfast at Tiffany's was released on October 5, 1961, by Paramount Pictures, directed by Blake Edwards, based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella.
What is the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's about?
Holly Golightly arrives by taxi to Tiffany and Co on Fifth Avenue at dawn in a black Givenchy gown and pearl necklace, eating a pastry and gazing at the jewelry. Filmed at 4 AM in New York City — widely considered the most iconic fashion moment in cinema history.
What does Holly Golightly's jewelry symbolize?
Holly's pearl necklace symbolizes aspiration, reinvention, and the performance of identity. She uses glamour as armor against a difficult past. The pearls represent the person she wants the world to believe she is.
What song plays in the opening scene?
Moon River by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1962 and is one of the most beloved songs in American popular culture.
Who played Holly Golightly?
Audrey Hepburn played Holly Golightly in the 1961 Paramount Pictures film directed by Blake Edwards. Truman Capote had originally wanted Marilyn Monroe for the role.
Did Audrey Hepburn sing Moon River herself?
Yes. Audrey Hepburn performed Moon River herself in the film, in a now-legendary scene where Holly sits on a fire escape strumming a guitar. Studio executives initially wanted to cut the scene — Hepburn reportedly said she would fight to keep it.
What are the mean reds in Breakfast at Tiffany's?
The mean reds is Holly Golightly's term for a feeling worse than the blues — a sudden, inexplicable fear and anxiety. Her cure is to take a taxi to Tiffany's, where the elegance and calm of the store makes her feel safe. Nothing very bad could happen to you there, she explains.
How much did the Breakfast at Tiffany's dress sell for at auction?
The original black Givenchy dress sold at Christie's London in December 2006 for 467,200 pounds (approximately $923,000 USD). Proceeds went to the City of Joy Aid charity in India.
References
- Capote, Truman. Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories. Random House, 1958.
- Edwards, Blake (Director). Breakfast at Tiffany's [Film]. Paramount Pictures, October 5, 1961.
- Christie's London. Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy Dress Auction Result. December 5, 2006. christies.com
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 34th Academy Awards (1962). oscars.org
- Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund. Audrey Hepburn Biography. audreyhepburn.com
- Givenchy Official. The House of Givenchy Heritage. givenchy.com
- Vogue. Audrey Hepburn's Most Iconic Fashion Moments. Conde Nast, 2021. vogue.com
- Harper's Bazaar. The Little Black Dress: A History. Hearst Publications, 2020. harpersbazaar.com
Shop the Look at KIMLUD
At KIMLUD we believe true elegance is timeless. Our jewelry collection is curated for the modern woman who understands that the right necklace, like the right dress, can change everything.
