The 1961 Truman Capote adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a Hollywood classic, loved and cherished by many. The Oscar-winning film introduced us to what is now considered timeless fashion classics such as the thick framed sunglasses and the slinky black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly. In this month’s newsletter, we will be exploring the conic looks that Audrey herself sported in the movie, as well as sharing with you some our own Tiffany pieces plus other timeless classics that would have been seen during the sixties.
Pearls
When you think of pearl necklaces, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people tend to reference Hepburn's most recognisable and most iconic look from the opening scene. Audrey is introduced wearing an elegant column dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy, a pair of satin elbow-length gloves, tortoise shell Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses and layers upon layers of pearls. The magic lies in the way that Audrey’s pearls elegantly flow down her back, beautifully complimenting the low-cut design of her dress.
Although the film itself was not about the luxurious jewellery shop, the film left many fantasising about owning Tiffany’s jewellery. Here at Powell’s Vintage, we have a selection of Tiffany’s jewellery and accessories to fulfil those desires.
Tiffany Three-Row X Ring
The Three-Row X Ring was designed by Jean Schlumberger who drew inspiration for his designs through nature’s wonders, transforming them into objects of mesmerising beauty, strong sculptural designs and magnificent bejewelled statements. His vision is delivered marvellously through this three-rope style band, accented by round brilliant cut diamond “X” motifs in platinum which illuminate this striking ring.
Engagement Ring
Tiffany’s settings are arguably the world's most iconic engagement rings out there. The six-prong setting is flawlessly engineered to create an illusion that the brilliant diamond is floating above the band and into the light. We have one of these stunning engagement rings in stock at present, it features a 0.73ct round brilliant cut diamond of E Colour and VVS2 Clarity.
X Pendant
If you’re a lover of Tiffany & Co and the city of New York, the “X” pendant designed by Paloma Picasso is the perfect way to embody both the film and city. How you may ask? Paloma’s expressive collection with Tiffany was inspired by graffiti scrawled on New York buildings. This pendant features her signature ‘X’ motif, crafted from platinum and set with fully cut round diamonds, this piece is both stylish and graceful.
60s Jewellery Trends
1960s jewellery fashion was unpredictable in just about every way. Rule books were thrown out the window and experimentation was all the rage. We saw bright colours, textured metals and numerous playful pieces such as big dangling earrings in geometric shapes, stacks of thick or skinny bangles, and colourful gemstones gained popularity.
Vibrant Colours
The vibrant colours such as the purple seen on this pair of vintage cufflinks from the 1960 shows how bold this era was. Unusual bright colours and pattern combinations were purposely formed to create an eye-catching and shocking appeal. The 60s found itself on the opposite side of the colour spectrum compared to the previous decade where more earthy tones were popular.
The Rise of Statement Pieces
The 1970s was very much inspired by the previous decade. It provided us with large, attention-grabbing statement pieces such as this vintage retro diamond ring. The Jewellery was all about the sparkle and the bling which was intended to shine and reflect in the newly opened discos.
As Audrey Hepburn was already a fashion icon of the 1950s, Breakfast at Tiffany’s catapulted Audrey as a fashion icon for decades after and inspired many of the jewellery trends that we’ve come to know and love from the time. Whether you’re looking for some Tiffany pieces to add to your collection or simply looking for jewellery inspiration from this era, be sure to browse our collection.