Audrey Hepburn's clothes to be auctioned in London

Couture and accessories once worn by the style icon will go on sale at London's Pall Mall December 8.

Many of the dresses are labeled Givenchy - Hepburn systematically included in her film contracts that all her costumes be made by the french fashion house's founder Hubert de Givenchy who in turn said of the actress: "All the responsibility for the way Audrey looked is hers. She made the selections."

But there will also be couture by Valentino and Elizabeth Arden and other dresses dating from the early 1950s to the late 1960s as well as belts and bags.

"Audrey had a sense of her own unique, personal style. She preferred to wear pastel colours, black and ivory with the occasional hot-pink statement as evidenced by this collection," says Kerry Taylor, founder of the eponymous auction house that is organizing the sale.

The highlight for any die-hard fan, however, would without a doubt be to get married in the dress designed for Hepburn's planned wedding to James Hanson, designed by the Fontana sisters. Hepburn initially gave it away to a poor Italian girl after she called off the wedding, but the gown was retrieved by the designers for a retrospective in 2002. It is expected to fetch up to £12,000 (€13,500).

For the rest of the collection, "it is difficult to predict prices in such a unique sale, however, it is hoped the sale will raise over £100,000. Estimates start at £400," Taylor said.

A small selection of the dresses will be on view at New York's Sotheby's auction house this weekend (November 20) and at the Paris branch December 1-2. The main public viewing takes place right before the auction, December 6-8, in London's Pall Mall.

Site: kerrytaylorauctions.com