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Audrey Hepburn's lace dress in Roman Holiday (film, 1953), remade for her 1954 Oscar

"It's too much." — Audrey Hepburn, accepting her Oscar, 25 March 1954

1952. Rome.

Audrey Hepburn, as Princess Ann, said goodbye to the man she loved in an ivory lace dress by Edith Head. Two years later, she wore the same dress, remade, to win her Oscar.

Audrey Hepburn in an ivory lace dress at the press conference, Roman Holiday (film, 1953) — Audrey Hepburn in the lace dress at the press conference, *Roman Holiday* (film, 1953)

The film

In 1952, the young and still unknown Audrey Hepburn was cast as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday (film, 1953), directed by William Wyler for Paramount. Edith Head, the studio's head costume designer, created her wardrobe.

After one day of freedom in Rome with the reporter Joe Bradley, played by Gregory Peck, Princess Ann returns to her duties.

In the closing scene, she holds a press conference. Among the journalists, she sees Joe for the last time. Asked which city she liked best, she answers: "Rome. By all means, Rome."

Audrey Hepburn standing in an ivory lace dress at the press conference, Roman Holiday (film, 1953) — Audrey Hepburn at the press conference, *Roman Holiday* (film, 1953)

The farewell dress

For that last scene, Edith Head dressed her in ivory lace. The dress had a full midi skirt, a fitted waist and a wrap-over bodice with a wide shawl collar.

The ensemble came with a matching lace jacket.

Audrey Hepburn in the lace dress in Roman Holiday — Audrey Hepburn in the lace dress in *Roman Holiday*

Audrey Hepburn in the lace dress with William Wyler on the set of Roman Holiday — Audrey Hepburn with William Wyler on the set of *Roman Holiday*

She had already worn the dress for her screen test.

Audrey Hepburn in the ivory lace dress, screen test for Roman Holiday — Audrey Hepburn in the lace dress for her screen test for *Roman Holiday*

The accessories

Around her neck, Princess Ann wore a pearl choker. On her head sat a small matching cap, in the Juliet style, set on her new short hair.

Audrey Hepburn in the lace dress in Roman Holiday, worn with a pearl choker and Juliet style cap

From the farewell dress to the Oscar dress

Audrey Hepburn at the Academy Awards, 25 March 1954

On 25 March 1954, at the 26th Academy Awards, Audrey Hepburn won Best Actress for Roman Holiday. She was in New York, and the actor Jean Hersholt handed her the Oscar.

"It's too much," she said on stage. She told the audience she was "truly, truly grateful and terribly happy."

Audrey Hepburn at the Academy Awards, 25 March 1954

For the night, she wore the lace dress from the film again. She disliked waste, and she did not buy a new one.

But the dress was remade. The shawl collar and wrap-over bodice were gone. The new bodice was cut straight across the front, low at the back, with thin straps.

A belt marked her slim waist, and the full lace skirt was kept. The new line was in the style of Hubert de Givenchy, who had just begun to dress her. The auctioneer Kerry Taylor later said that Audrey Hepburn had "Givenchy-fied it!"

Audrey Hepburn holding her Oscar in the white lace dress, 1954 — Audrey Hepburn with her Oscar for *Roman Holiday*, 1954

Audrey Hepburn holding her Oscar among photographers, 1954 — Audrey Hepburn with her Oscar among photographers, 1954

Audrey Hepburn smiling with her Oscar in the white lace dress, 1954 — Audrey Hepburn with her Oscar, 1954

She called it her "Lucky Dress."

The story

After the ceremony, Audrey Hepburn gave the dress to her mother, Ella van Heemstra. Her mother later gave it to a friend in America, whose family kept it for decades.

On 29 November 2011, it was sold at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London. The estimate was £40,000 to £60,000. A private collector from Asia paid £84,000.

Audrey Hepburn with her Oscar beside the white lace dress on a stand — Audrey Hepburn in 1954, and the lace dress sold at Kerry Taylor Auctions in 2011

Audrey Hepburn's white lace Oscar dress of 1954 on a stand — Audrey Hepburn's lace dress from *Roman Holiday*

Close view of the lace bodice and belt of Audrey Hepburn's 1954 Oscar dress — The lace bodice and belt of Audrey Hepburn's 1954 Oscar dress

Few dresses in fashion history have first played a part in a heroine’s story on screen, then witnessed the greatest glory of the actress who played her.