Audrey Hepburn Paris When it Sizzles - Her Sizzling 1960s Fashion
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Audrey Hepburn Paris When it Sizzles 1964 is a fashionable romantic comedy with stunning 1960s fashion designed by Givenchy.
In her role as an assistant to a Hollywood screenwriter (William Holden) the stylish Audrey Hepburn goes on an adventure acting out the crazy fantasies of possible story plots, with lots of twists, and, of course, finds love along the way!
Audrey Hepburn is graceful and funny in her role as the cheeky typist, and the pure ridiculousness of the script is 1960s slapstick that is as corny as it can get.
Luckily, we documented Audrey Hepburns 1960s fashion from the movie, so you don’t have to sit through it.
This post is all about the Audrey Hepburn style in Paris When it Sizzles and her sizzling Givenchy dresses and fashion.
How old was Audrey Hepburn in Paris When it Sizzles?
Audrey Hepburn was 33 years old when she starred in Paris When it Sizzles.
She reunited with the handsome William Holden, who was 44 for the filming of the film.
It was eleven years after Audrey Hepburn had co-starred with William Holden in Sabrina, as young chauffeur’s daughter in love with the wealthy playboy.
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What did Audrey Hepburn wear in Paris When it Sizzles 1964?
In Paris When it Sizzles, Audrey Hepburn’s 1960s outfits range from lacy nightgowns, to tailored skirt suits, sleeveless summer dresses, a retro pilot’s outfit, to her over-the-top evening gown for the costume party.
For shoes, Audrey Hepburn wears her favorite 1960’s kitten pumps in white or pastel colors to match her outfits.
Even though she’s famous for her love of ballet flats, she doesn’t wear any flats in this movie, only kitten heels!
Even her glam lacy blue pajama outfit is paired with white kitten pumps.
Audrey Hepburn’s fashion accessories include quaint 1960s sun and fashion hats in light colors.
What other fashion accessories take her outfits to the next level? Long white opera gloves and simple pearl studs!
In the early 1960s pearls were still popular, as they were pretty and complimented the 1950s feminine clothing, whereas the later 1960s jewelry became bolder, influenced by pop art, with striking designs and geometric shapes, similar to what Audrey Hepburn wears in Breakfast at Tiffanys.
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Audrey Hepburn’s makeup look for the movie? False eyelashes and dramatic lined eyes, lightly drawn eyebrows, and light lipstick shades.
Statement false eyelashes were very popular in the 1960s.
Audrey Hepburn rocks a voluminous 1960 chignon hairstyle! Big hairstyles (involving lots of hair spray!) were the in-look in the 1960s.
Who designed the clothes for Paris When it Sizzles?
Hubert de Givenchy, well known as Audrey Hepburn’s favorite designer, gets the credit for all of the incredible costumes and 1960s outfits for Paris When it Sizzles.
This French aristocrat, who founded the famous luxury and perfume company, was also a personal friend of Audrey Hepburn’s.
No wonder Audrey Hepburn’s style sizzled on and offscreen!
Givenchy designed clothes for Audrey’s personal wardrobe and a number of her famous movies; a few of his fashion collections with Audrey that we love are:
Paris When it Sizzles 1964 Summary
Audrey Hepburn’s character, Gabrielle, is living in Paris and is excited to assist a famous Hollywood screenwriter Richard Bensen (William Holden).
When she shows up for her typing assignment, she discovers the handsome (and buzzed!) scriptwriter has… zero pages ready for her to type.
Over the next few days, as he tells the story aloud (with her typing), they are both weaved into the script, resulting in a crazy slapstick movie that cuts back and forth between them writing the story, to them starring in the story that’s being written.
Of course they fall in love along the stylish and ridiculous journey.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Mint Green Skirt Suit
Audrey Hepburn’s 1960s outfit is a stunning Givenchy mint green tweed skirt suit, with statement buttons on the bodice. She pairs this with a white hat, long white gloves, and white kitten heels, and a white purse.
The movie opens with the stylish Audrey Hepburn weaving through the charming 1960s Paris.
She is bubbling with excitement as she arrives at a fancy hotel, ready for her new typewriting assignment for a famous Hollywood screenwriter.
She is also carrying her retro white luggage and birdcage, which, of course, are color coordinated with her outfit.
Somehow her strolling through Paris in her 1960s outfit, with a birdcage, looks very normal and chic!
We love this Audrey Hepburn dress outfit! Notice how full her 1960s style swing skirt is. Talk about fantastic swing whenever she moves, which is emphasized by the numerous pleats in the skirt.
When Audrey Hepburn takes off her hat, excited to start typing, her hair is styled up in a voluminous 1960s beehive (or chignon updo).
She is shocked to discover that the handsome, and somewhat toasted, Richard Bensen (William Holden) hasn’t written down a single word, even though the entire script is due to his producer in two days!
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Orange Summer Dress
The next scenes go back and forth as Richard Bensen imagines different scenes for his movie script, where Audrey Hepburn and he are the main characters.
When the movie cuts to his story, “The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower,” Audrey Hepburn’s character is wearing an orange sleeveless dress with a full pleated circle skirt, tied at the waist.
She pairs this with a large light colored straw hat and her favorite 1960s kitten pumps, in white. Her only jewelry is her pearl earring studs.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Mint Green Skirt Suit & White Silk Blouse
The movie cuts back and forth between them writing the story (in which they are both the main actors!), to the actual story they’re writing, which keeps changing!
There’s lots of flirty and entertaining banter, as he tells the story and she agrees or disagrees with each twist.
They finally order in a champagne feast for dinner (which also gets written into their Hollywood script!), and then relax and flirt over drinks on the sofa.
For lounging after dinner, Audrey Hepburn’s character takes off her tweed blazer, and wears a while silk cropped shirt. She has slipped off her kitten heels and on her oversized white cardigan.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Retro Flying Bomber Outfit
As the movie does another flashback scene to the script they are writing, Audrey Hepburn is a bomber pilot.
Although this is a pretty ridiculous dogfight scene, it’s a great retro flying outfit!
We love how the feminine white scarf contrasts with the masculine brown leather of her coat and gloves.
For this flashback scene, Audrey Hepburn’s character is wearing a retro pilot’s outfit, including a leather coat and gloves, flying goggles, and white scarf for pizzaz!
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Pajama Outfit
Both work late into the night, until it’s time to go to bed.
We love this pajama outfit, which embodies the 1960s nonconformist but stylish look, where Givenchy layers a fitted empire style gown with an over-the-top lacy train and billowing lacy sleeves.
Also, even though her long hair is simply “down” for the night, the front is back-combed into glorious volume, and pulled back with a match blue bow.
Audrey Hepburn’s character is wearing a pastel blue floor-length nightgown, with matching lace sleeves and a lace train. Her nightgown is gathered into a high bow at the front of her dress. She pairs her white kitten pumps with her nightie.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: White Summer Dress
The next morning, Audrey Hepburn’s character is excited to continue writing the story.
As she gazes into the mirror to make final adjustments to her voluminous hairdo, she looks like she should be on the front cover of a 1960s glamor magazine!
As she steps outside of her room, she sees rows of paper lined up with typed script.
Audrey Hepburn is wearing a stunning sleeveless white dress, with a fitted bodice, and full pleated circle skirt, defined at the waist with a pastel blue belt. This is paired with her favorite white kitten pumps. Her jewelry is her white pearl stud earrings.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Bubble Bath “Outfit”
The movie again cuts back to the story they are writing. William Holden’s character is now a jewel thief, and, she takes a break running from him to play board game, letting her hair down, while getting extra flirty.
Next she takes a bubble bath.
The movie is pretty ridiculous (but weirdly entertaining?)
Givenchy sure wasn’t shy in experimenting with elaborate bows and frills for this movie’s outfits!
Isn’t it crazy how 1960 this style looks, even with just Audrey Hepburn’s head peeking out from all of the bubbles?
For the bubble bath scene, Audrey Hepburn’s hair is styled in an elaborate voluminous updo with multiple puffs and a sugary pink bow.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Medieval Princess Ballgown Costume
In the next scene their characters are attending a fancy Hollywood costume party.
The very ridiculousness of this outfit perfectly matches the slapstick lightheartedness of the scene.
Even though her costume is for a medieval princess, yet the 1960s fashion influence is evident via Givenchy’s liberal use of fur, and the swirling tulle on her headpiece.
Audrey Hepburn is wearing a medieval style white embroidered ballgown, with black fur accents around her neck and the base of her dress. This is paired with a jeweled steeple-cone hat with a translucent blue fabric train.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: White Tailored Dress
When the movie cuts back to Audrey Hepburn and Willam Holden’s character writing again, she gazes at him lovingly, telling him how wonderful he is.
William Holden’s character tells that her she must leave, as he’s no good for her.
He also announces dramatically that he’s going to give up writing, since the entire script is ridiculous.
For this latest writing jaunt, Audrey Hepburn is wearing another white sleeveless dress, gathered at the waist with a white belt. This elegant dress is paired with white pearl earrings, and is very similar to her previous outfit.
Audrey Hepburn Style in Paris When It Sizzles - Her Sizzling Givenchy Dresses: Sugary Pink Summer Dress
The next morning Audrey Hepburn is gone, and William Holden’s character searches for her frantically, until he sees her birdcage on the table.
Smiling, he picks it up and heads out to look for her.
He finds her sitting in a Parisian cafe.
Audrey Hepburn’s character is wearing a pink sleeveless dress, with a full pleated circle skirt, tied at the waist with a pink bow.
She pairs this with pink kitten heels, a pink bag, and long white opera gloves. Her hair accessory is a pink bow loop, and her jewelry is pearl stud earrings.
Givenchy was sure having fun with sugary pink, and bows with this outfit.
We love how very 1960s this style is–with the bright pink color and over-the-top frilly details.
William Holden tells her that they have a script to write…about a nice girl who meets a boy. They kiss and then the movie fades out, just as if their script was finally finished and made into a film.
This post is all about the Audrey Hepburn style in Paris When it Sizzles and her sizzling Givenchy dresses and fashion.
What are your thoughts on the Audrey Hepburn 1960s fashion and style in Paris When it Sizzles?
Do you prefer her Givenchy day dresses, frilly nightgown, or her over-the-top costume evening gown?
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