With a heart of gold and stunning yet soft beauty, Audrey Hepburn was and is an icon for many different reasons. She certainly was an unbelievably talented actress, being the star of hit films such as Roman Holiday, Funny Face, My Fair Lady, and (of course) Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But another thing she is often praised for is her status as a fashion icon. Her French-inspired classic look is still coveted to this day.
So what makes her a surprising person to get French style inspiration from?
Well, Audrey was born in Belgium, but she’s actually considered a British actress. Though she wasn’t born and raised in France she still nailed all the elements of French fashion in her iconic look.
There’s a lot that we can learn from her, from fashion to life, but let’s dig into ways to add a bit of Audrey Hepburn style to your look!
The Surprising Person to Get All Your French Inspo From
“Audrey Hepburn style” is a much talked about subject, and with good reason! She worked with the major French fashion house, Givenchy, which I think helped shaped her into a Parisian icon.
She was always chic, timeless, and simple, yet glamorous when the occasion called for it. Though even in her most dramatic and glamorous outfits, she never seemed overdone.
Related: How to Look Expensive
Here are some of her best looks recreated so you can see how to copy them and look Audrey Hepburn chic in no time!
1. cropped trousers + low back sweater + ballet flats + gold hoops
Let’s dissect this look: You’ll quickly find that both Audrey and French women love a pair of cropped cigarette pants. Though these pants are a little loose around her body, they are tight around the waist, which cinches her in and shows off her slim figure! The v neck back adds a little bit of interest and she accessorized simply, yet perfectly with elegant gold hoops!
Style tips to get from this look: Slim black pants are always chic! High waisted pants that cinch you in on the smallest part of your waist are flattering. All black is not boring when paired with a top that has interesting details! Sometimes all the jewelry you need are some simple hoops. Ballet flats nail dressy yet casual.
similar outfit details- earrings | top (basic cardigan turned backwards)
2. headscarf + trench coat + black pants
Let’s dissect this look: Audrey takes your silk scarf and wears it in a totally charming yet not old fashioned way! She makes an oversized trench still look chic and not sloppy by pairing it with this headscarf and rolling up the sleeves.
Related: 6 Stylish Ways to Wear Your Silk Scarf
Style tips to get from this look: Don’t forget the magic and versatility of silk scarves. Start incorporating them into your own outfits! When it comes to outerwear, a trench coat is always a good choice.
similar outfit deets- trench coat | turtleneck | pants | flats
3. turtleneck + trousers + loafers
Let’s dissect this look: Audrey didn’t bother with always trying to have the right amount of color or print in each look. She knew that less is sometimes more and that simple classic pieces would always do the trick perfectly! This look shows that effortless elegance that’s a quintessential part of Audrey Hepburn’s style.
Style tips to get from this look: Loafers and turtlenecks might not be “trendy”, but don’t follow the trends so closely, that it turns you off from these staple pieces! Related: How to Build a Wardrobe from Scratch
loafers (similar) | turtleneck (similar) | pants (similar)
4. button down + silk scarf
Let’s dissect this look: Audrey didn’t let the item wear her, she wore the item (like the style icon that she is). One great way to do this is by making a basic item your own. Here, she cuffs the sleeves of a white button-down and adds a silk scarf to take this outfit from ordinary to something you want to copy! Related: 10 Chic Different Ways to Wear the Same Shirt
Style tips to get from this look: Though this look is from a movie and not her own personal style, it doesn’t mean we can’t get style tips from it. Reinvent the classics by adding your own flair to staple pieces! Top off “boring” looks with a silk scarf to up those chic vibes.
similar outfit deets- scarf | button down | pants | flats
5. sleeveless button down shirt + headscarf + cropped trousers + ballet flats
Let’s dissect this look: Vintage and charming all in one, Audrey nailed this summer go-to look. The color-coordinating looks cute, not cheesy when broken up with classic prints. You also can’t forget her signature piece – a pretty silk scarf.
Style tips to get from this look: When the temps warm up, break out the gingham print and show a little ankle by pairing ballet flats with your cropped pants. Color coordinating and cute dog optional!
similar outfit deets- scarf | top | pants | flats
Here are some other favorite Audrey Hepburn style looks to drool over and get inspired by!
Though it may seem opposite, I love to look at past fashions to get ideas on what I should wear now. If you do the same, you’ll quickly find that there’s really nothing “new” and styles are just constantly being recycled from decades before us!
One thing that’s particularly noteworthy about Audrey Hepburn is that although we now recognize her as the stunningly beautiful woman that she was, not everyone saw her this way. When she first came on to the scene at a young age, she was a far cry from the coveted “Marilyn Monroe” look of the time. She was often regarded as “too skinny” and seen as an unconventional movie star due to her dark hair (at a time when blonde was all the rage). But despite this, she continues to go down in history as a beauty and fashion icon. Audrey is a reminder to us all to feel beautiful in our own skin and always walk with confidence.
Share this post with someone that loves Audrey Hepburn style as much as you!
If you liked this post then you’ll love this post where I’ve rounded up 30+ posts all on French fashion!
I LOVE Audrey. She is SUCH a style icon and inspiration!!
I totally agree with you!
I was just in France, all parts of France; small mountain towns to Paris. No one looked like what you are posting!!! NO ONE. Stripes are NO WHERE!! Nike’s are in, color is in, wedges are in, espadrille what ever they are NOT THERE!!! I watched on French TV a French Fashion designer say, to a CNN reporter, “ French want to look American. It is the Chines and Americans that put a Persian look to us”.
Hi, Jill! Thanks for your feedback. Your trip sounds amazing! I’ve been to Paris myself and just how people have their own unique style in America, they have it in Paris too. Not everyone wears stripes, just as not everyone wears Nikes 🙂 I have some French fashion interviews coming up where true Parisians are talking about their love for classic style that I think you’ll really love! Also, French icon Jeanne Damas rocks a mean espadrille 😉
I have so many of Audrey’s pieces! Now I know how to put them together. Thanks for the tips!
Audrey Hepburn is my forever style icon! She is a classic and she most certainly embodies elements of classic French fashion!
I love her so much!
It’s funny how I found this in my email just as I finished watching My Fair Lady. Love love love Audrey style! She will always be in style.
That is great timing! 🙂
Interesting comment about French style. I just left Paris. Every other woman had a trench coat, there were stripe shirts all over the place. Every other person. Not one woman was dressed even close to American style! My son, who lives there, took me to restaurants and cafes where locals hang out. There were very few tourists due to COVID! Many people that I met were shocked I was American because of the way I was dressed! True Parisian women have no desire to dress like “ an American” You must have hit all the tourist attractions.
I absolutely LOVE this post! I didn’t realize how many of these trends were back!
Crazy how it all comes back, right?!
Oh this post gives me all the feels! I never realized how many black pieces Audrey used in her clothes!
True! Hard to know what was black and what was just the coloring of the photos, but even back then neutrals were always a win 🙂
It’s hard not to love Audrey Hepburn. She was such an icon, from her fashion to her philanthropic work. I don’t think she will ever go out of style.
I totally agree with you!
I absolutely love Audrey Hepburn and her style was always so classic and chic! Definitely a huge fashion inspiration and icon!
Kileen
cute & little
I love being able to find icons from decades ago that can still inspire us today!
Audrey was such a class act, no matter the situation. Her style has always been so iconic and enviable. I love your recreations of some of her best outfits!
Love her so much!
This is great! Love how your recreated some of the looks and even poses!
Xx, Nailil
https://thirtyminusone.com
Thanks, girl! Did the best I could haha!
Audrey was quite the style icon, wasn’t she! You pull her looks off well. x
Aw thanks, big compliment 🙂
WOW, so many gorgeous, classicly beautiful looks to be inspired by! I love your recreation of them. It’s crazy that they really do evoke a French-girl style, even though she was not French!!
I know, right??
She was Belgian not British as the article states and that’s pretty close to France 🙂
Yes, true! Belgian born but a British actress w/ English roots 🙂 According to the Internet…but who knows how accurate that is 😉
Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of chic! You nailed these looks perfectly!!
I love her so much!
I absolutely love Audrey Hepburn!! Her style was always so classic and chic and very Parisian!
xo, Laura
I love her and you nailed her style duplicates. Thank you for this inspiration!!!!
You’re welcome 🙂 So happy you liked it!
Hi there! I found this blog post through Pinterest and I LOVE the first scarf you are wearing. When I click the link provided it takes me to Etsy, but I don’t see the same scarf:( Is that where you got it from? And the pleated pants and square-toed loafers are different in the links too; I also love those! I would love to know where you got them:) Thanks so much!
Sorry, the loafers aren’t square-toed; they are rounded with a slight point (but not the pointy ones).
Hi, Holly! The scarf is thrifted so unfortunately, I can’t link to the exact item, so that’s why it says similar outfit deets- it was the best I could find online! The loafers are from Target and still out of stock, but you can keep checking this link to see if they come back. The pants are from TjMaxx and not online- so that’s also why it says similar outfit deets- because they were the closest I could find online as well! Hope that helps and thank you SO much for your comment and stopping by my blog!
Thank you so much for getting back so quickly! I just now realized you wrote “similar deets” next to the listed links; sorry about that haha. I’m so sad about the scarf, but it’s an amazing thrift find for you!
Thank you for all your tips and help, and I love all of your fashion wisdom in your blogs:)
Aww thank you so much, Holly!!
Love her styles she dressed with so much class! These are so cute!
I totally agree!
Audrey’s mother was a Dutch Baroness and did much work for the Dutch Underground during WW2, and so did Audrey when she was a child, fooling the Nazis! Her father was British and turned into a Fascist and so her mother threw him out of her castle at Arnhem, Netherlands. Eventually, the Nazis forced everyone out of Arnhem and Audrey almost died of hepatitis on the walk with 1000s of people to get to the East Coast of Holland. Her mother cared for her and saved her. We were so lucky to have such a beautiful woman to see in the movies, not only talented and stylish but so generous, kind and good.
Hey Carolyn,
I know this is an older post, but I have become a bit obsessed with upping my look/style. I am in my early 60s and I have started sewing and have had an itch to sew cigarette pants that actually fit me. So, I have started checking out Audrey Hepburn photos. Definitely had to start with you :).
I am in the process of going through your class, How to Build a Wardrobe From Scratch. I love it and will be giving you a review when I’m actually done. It has been the best starting point for me in putting together a queue for sewing the pieces that I don’t have.
Thanks for the class and this (and other) articles. Your pics of the style and then your own version of it are great.
Keep up the awesome work!
Although I like the simplicity of Audrey Hepburn’s style, the thing I loved most is your hair style-the low bun containing all those long curls. So chic!
I appreciate that. Thank you 🙂