Photos / Breakfast at Tiffany’s and WheninManila.com
One of the most iconic images of Audrey Hepburn is that of her in a black Givenchy dress, gloves, tortoiseshell glasses, a pearl necklace, and an ornament in her hair. It is her look for the opening of the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It was so well-loved that even those who aren’t fans of Hepburn or have watched the film are surely familiar with the image. Today, that Givenchy number is one of the most influential dresses in the history of 20th-century clothing and costume design.
There is, of course, more to Hepburn than that dress. She has starred in many iconic films, such as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, and My Fair Lady. She is also one of just 18 people with EGOT status, or who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Moreover, there is Hepburn’s equally fascinating personal life, like her romances, family, and humanitarian work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF.
These are just some of the things covered in Intimate Audrey, a bespoke exhibition on the life of the actress and humanitarian.
Intimate Audrey is exactly that. Intimate. Viewers get to see Hepburn as a woman, not an icon, in photographs and memorabilia. This exhibit is special because there is a healthy mix of re-printed photographs with original dresses, accessories, awards, books, fashion drawings, and handwritten speeches.
The collection itself is splendid. On display are Hepburn’s Balmain dress and rings from when she married Mel Ferrer, the Vespa from Roman Holiday, her collection of books signed by their authors, and personal effects like her address book and passports. A whole section is dedicated to her time as a humanitarian, with a handwritten speech taking up an entire wall.
The in-depth approach is thanks to Hepburn’s son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, who created the exhibit. It is timed to celebrate his mother’s 90th birthday anniversary.
Intimate Audrey was launched in 2019 in the actress’s birth town of Brussels, then moved to Amsterdam, where she spent the war. It was put on hold because of the pandemic but is now back on tour. Manila is its third stop and first in Asia. The Manila stop has a distinctly local flavor as the exhibit ends with a special exhibit of dresses made by 22 Filipino fashion designers, all inspired by Hepburn’s styles and looks.
Similar to Hepburn’s philanthropic nature, profits from Intimate Audrey will go to EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe – as well as other charitable projects, via the Belgian bespoke ASBL (non for profit association) ‘Born in Bruxelles.’
Intimate Audrey runs from August 1 to October 29, 2023, at the S Maison. Tickets are available through SM Ticket outlets. The exhibit is open to private groups and events.
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