When I think of Audrey Hepburn, I marvel at her indelible charisma. If Audrey was a colour she would be the brightest, sunniest yellow on the planet. She would also have turned 92 this month. She is the sunflower in Harry Styles's bewitching and uplifting eponymous song of the same name.
In the film Funny Face, which captures the madness and spontaneity of haute fashion magazines, we can't take our eyes off her sunny, insouciant, beautiful, animated face. Of course, the idea that she is not beautiful enough to be a model is ridiculous. That's the movies for you. When Jo, Audrey's character agrees to give modelling a go in return for a trip to Paris to attend a lecture on empathicalism, she is photographed by Fred Astaire as stellar photographer Dick Avery in a chic, minimalist, yellow rain coat hanging out with the artists beside the Seine.
With her raven hair and porcelain features Audrey often wore paintbox bright yellow. Remember the adorable coat in Charade?
Given, that it is very much raincoat season, I wondered what yellow coat would Audrey Hepburn wear in 2021? I think Audrey would be very interested in slow fashion in these climate conscious times and that she would love this extrovert, circular organic cotton coat by the German fashion house Raffauf.
It's an elegant, stop the traffic kind of coat! The perfect coat for a movie star!
Commenting on Audrey's lasting legacy as an actress and icon who continues to influence fashion today, costume historian Vicky Haddock says, "There is no other actress so embedded in our understanding of fashion history as Audrey Hepburn. Both on screen and off, she established herself as a fashion icon whose timeless, chic style, created through her relationship with Hubert de Givenchy, continues to captivate today."
Watch Audrey in Funny Face for the marvellous on-screen chemistry between Audrey and Fred Astaire, the heart-stoppingly beautiful couture fashion conceived by Hubert de Givenchy and Edith Head and for the all to realistic glimpse into the mad world of high fashion magazines. Kay Thompson is brilliant as the ruthless, extravagant, idea a minute, portrait of a fashion editor, rumoured to be inspired by 'think pink' Diana Vreeland, the legendary editor of Harpers Bazaar magazine.
Audrey as Jo is very lucky that Dick didn't ask her to hang off the Eiffel Tower so that he could capture that! I can think of at least one legendary lensman who would find the idea perfectly, dangerously enchanting.
Funny Face Starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video
All Images Are Copyright and for Editorial Use Only.
More about Raffauf
The family owned fashion house created by Caroline Raffauf makes beautiful, forever coats in bold, clean designs and fascinating circular fabrics from linen to organic cotton and a sheer, almost see-through fabric from recycled bottles. The coats are as practical and ingenious as they are beautiful. They feature eco-friendly waterproof coatings which include beeswax and a new coating made from upcycled grain waste.
For more information or to view the collections visit Raffauf
Victoria Haddock is on Twitter @VickyHaddock
