Movie icon Audrey Hepburn’s son has reacted to Ivanka Trump recreating the late actress’ Givenchy dress for Donald Trump’s Inauguration.
The designers have already faced a backlash for dressing the Trump family for the inauguration.
Now Audrey Hepburn’s son has spoken out about the luxury designer dress worn by Ivanka and inspired by the late Hollywood star.
Many on social media have taken issue with Ivanka wearing a gown inspired by the Breakfast at Tiffany’s legend to the inaugural Liberty Ball this week after Donald Trump was sworn in as America’s 47th President.
But the late actress’ family aren’t that bothered that Ivanka wore an exact replica of the white Givenchy dress Hepburn wore in the 1954 film Sabrina alongside Humphrey Bogart and William Holden.
The plot of the film, directed and written by Billy Wilder, deals with a chauffeur’s daughter, Sabrina’s, return from school in Paris.
A playboy member of the wealthy Larrabee family finally takes notice of the daughter, who’s long had a crush on him, but he questions his more serious brother’s motives when he warns against getting involved with her.
“It is no wonder that growing up in a family which knew our mother as a household name she chose to draw inspiration from her, to seek the ultimate elegance and class reference, for an occasion such as this one,” Hepburn’s eldest son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, said.
He also pointed out that the inauguration was the 32nd anniversary of his mother’s death, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, adding, “What a cocktail!”
He went on to address how his late mother’s “legacy has grown to become trans-generational and transnational” in the years since her death.
“Her elegance, which has its roots in her inner beauty and spirit, is often a reference point, an anchor, for many celebrities, actresses and models in these times in which we appear to have somewhat lost our way,” he concluded.
A White House rep said Ivanka was “incredibly grateful to the Arnault family and the Givenchy atelier for creating this masterpiece, capturing the original artistry and elegance with remarkable precision and craftsmanship.”
The Arnault family owns LVMH, whose massive portfolio includes the Givenchy design house.
“Audrey Hepburn has long been a personal inspiration to Ivanka,” the statement continued, saying, “She views it as a great privilege to honour her legacy in this way, and is incredibly grateful to the team at Givenchy for bringing this moment to life.”
However, Vogue was not so impressed by Ivanka’s choice.
“Given politicians often embed their outfits with powerful or meaningful choices – see Dr. Jill Biden’s patriotic wardrobe in shades of red, white, and blue – Trump’s wardrobe appears to be built on artifice and aesthetics instead,” they wrote.
“It may be an intentional choice: Perhaps Trump prefers to keep her wardrobe surface-level,” the criticism continued. “But her nod to upbeat Hollywood glamour, on a stage that holds so much weight for Americans, felt misguided.”
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