Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ENTERTAINMENT
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Entertainment Contents:  Arts & Culture

Tuesday, 20 February 2007, 09:46 GMT

Hepburn dress aids India's poor

Christie's Romilly Collins models the dress The sale of Audrey Hepburn's iconic black dress from classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's is to fund 15 new educational centres in India.

The black Givenchy dress, made specifically for Hepburn's role in the 1961 movie, sold to an anonymous bidder for £467,200 at Christie's in December.

Proceeds from the sale have gone to Calcutta-based charity City of Joy Aid.

The first new educational centre is being built in Lakshmikantapur, Bengal, and will be opened later this month.

It will be equipped with computers and audio aids to help teach English to children who otherwise would never go to school.

Bidding frenzy

French author Dominique Lapierre set up City of Joy Aid, which helps India's poor through a network of clinics, schools, rehabilitation centres and hospital boats.

Lapierre was given the dress - one of three made for Hepburn in her role as eccentric Manhattan socialite Holly Golightly - by designer Hubert de Givenchy.

It had been expected to fetch £70,000, but caused a bidding frenzy when it was sold in London on 5 December.

The winning bidder paid £410,000, with the rest of the sale price made up of buyer's fees.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Auction frenzy over Hepburn dress (05 Dec 06 |  Entertainment )
Audrey Hepburn: Why the fuss? (07 Apr 06 |  Magazine )
Garland's dress fetches £140,000 (27 Apr 05 |  Entertainment )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Christie's
Films - Breakfast at Tiffany's
Films - Audrey Hepburn profile
City of Joy Aid
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Entertainment Contents:  Arts & Culture

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©