Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
A love letter to the actress and the film that popularized the iconic little black dress
AAAAAAHHHHHH. Stop the yellow taxis and shut down the jewelry stores. It’s a seismic alert: Audrey Hepburn in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S is now officially #1 on my “the most perfect and prettiest any actress has ever looked” list.
Being the fashion enthusiast that I am, I have grown to know Audrey Hepburn as the OG fashion icon. With countless editorials, homages, and boards, even though I’d never seen a single Audrey film, Audrey had already become one of my favorite celebrities. BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S was one of my most hyped films—[so hyped that I didn't think it was possible to match it], and yet, here we are.
*
Holly Golightly (A wordplay on her frisky, puerile, and cute persona: Holly, go lightly) wants only one thing in life—to be married to a rich man. Now, before slutshaming her under the guise of modern feminism, try reading the layers. Holly’s unrelenting and unrewarding hike through the noble society of New York is simultaneously critiquing the class system created under capitalism, and acknowledging our innate desire to experience the joys of financial stability. Hence, it’s hurting me to see reviews mentioning her as some bimbo, gold digger, a victim of patriarchy, or an outdated idea of a woman. Holly was an independent woman, who knew what she wanted in life. In her own words— “No one can cage me”.
All the detractors are ignoring what makes Holly herself: her indigent upbringing. She used to be an outsider; quite literally wandering the streets. In the absence of a mother, she took it upon herself to protect her brother. And the only way was through money. For her, finding a well-off man meant finally escaping the trash life she dearly loathed. What’s so wrong with desiring a better life? What’s so great about slaving away 80% of your week at some thankless corporation and then getting a weekend to yourself as compensation? How is *that* independence, and having unlimited time to spend easily earned money on your favorite hobbies *not*?
At heart, she’s the ideal girl next door, or in this case, the girl downstairs, climbing up your window to escape the cold night or singing a sad song to the rhythms of her guitar from her balcony. She carries her heart on her sleeve. But she’s also the unattainable diva, who walks the red carpet in custom-made luxury dresses and has her hair tied in graciously shaped buns, who’s confident enough to sneak into a stranger’s bed and scared enough to shriek in his arms in her sleep from a familial nightmare. Under her shallow exterior, there lay a soft, innocent interior.
This juxtaposition of such contrasting characteristics in one woman might sound difficult to achieve, but is sewn perfectly in the opening scene itself: Holly, in the most iconic clothing piece of all time—[the personally handcrafted "little black dress" by Givenchy himself], walks daintily towards the Tiffany & Co store, and just when we draw the idea of a rich madame about to begin another one of her shopping sprees, she discloses her croissant from her purse, and sips her coffee, while staring at the shiny stones from the other side of the window, on the street. She’s just like us, dreaming of the diamonds while drinking her commonplace drink.
And so, for our hero, Paul (lovingly called Fred by Holly, since he reminded her of her army-bound brother), falling for this woman was a natural, logical happenstance. Who could resist her charm? It helps his case, too, that he’s the nicest guy ever. So, It seems easy to blame Holly for creating this building of forbidden love between them; with her eyes set on someone richer, unlike Paul who barely makes a living by selling his body. But we should remember that the real enemy is the society that molded her in this way. She was the only woman who shone a light on Paul’s life, and who made him believe in himself.
For such an iconic film, their date had to be iconic too. And what better than walking around aimlessly in New York City and taking turns doing something you've never done before? Is it really a date if it’s not having fun, doing mischief, buying the cheapest item in an ultra-expensive store, shoplifting just for the feels, and index-searching your own book in a library? Central Park. Bryant Park. New York Public Library. New York City, standing tall, with the same unmovable strength and dignity as it does 70 years later, but glowing in its technicolor hue, was glorious to watch. But even the world’s premiere city was nothing in front of the beauty that illuminated it with her existence. If her scarlet jacket made her stand out in a city of millions, her naive failing becomes the reason she has to hide, or run.
And it hit me like heartbreak that one of the first modern romcoms, with the kind of situational comedy and lighthearted character dynamic setup that’s been templated to death by now—turned out to be enormously sad. Holly’s spirit breaking down in the taxi, broke me too. The woman who hated rats and filth embraced her destiny among rats and trashcans.
*
Breakfast at Tiffany’s will always stay an unfulfilled dream. A dream where you get to sashay into your favorite store and buy diamonds first thing in the morning. A dream where your status is no longer left to be decided. A dream where money is an afterthought, and your name is needless. A dream where being free means possessing the power to pay for everything.
To Holly Golightly, I hope you find peace in the knowledge that dreaming was a gift in itself; it made you worth more than anything else.
Millions of women have worn and will keep wearing little black dresses as if they’re proud gleaming diamonds themselves. And each time they do, the star named Audrey shines brighter. To the woman who birthed fashion dictionaries, and colored film history with her timeless glow, thank you. You’ll forever be loved.
*
*
*