Ariana Channelling Audrey
Pop star and rising actress, Ariana Grande, has recently been catching eyes with her familiar fashion choices, taking inspiration from acting legend Audrey Hepburn and channeling her legacy through her reminiscent red carpet looks.
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Pop sensation, Ariana Grande, rarely disappoints when it comes to the red carpet, and after recently returning back to her acting roots in Wicked, she has provided fashion enthusiasts with some jaw-dropping looks. From press tours to award ceremonies to the Paris Olympics, Ariana and her stylist, Mimi Cuttrell’s fashion choices have been nothing short of chic and Wicked-inspired while incorporating the nostalgia of the 1950s and 1960’s and, specifically, Audrey Hepburn. Her carefully curated nods to the Hollywood royalty have turned heads, Hepburn’s everlasting legacy paired with Grande’s effortless glamour and modern touches makes them the perfect collaboration in fashion, reminding the generation of today of the fashion phenomenon that is Audrey Hepburn and how she has helped shape fashion and designers as we know it today. Ariana has been utilising her current, widely popular movie, Wicked, as a method to turn heads with her inspired looks and to spread awareness and the nostalgia of the legacy that is 50s Hollywood and Hepburn, to a generation that may not be as aware of the icon’s significance and global impact not just within film, but within fashion.
Ariana Grande debuted her new Audrey Hepburn-inspired side bangs at the 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Awards on 3rd January, 2025(left); Photo by Steve Granitz for Harper’s Bazaar. Audrey Hepburn with her signature mini side bang during the 1950s (right). Photo courtesy of Beauty Heaven. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
This legacy shone through Grande’s Givenchy campaign back in 2019, announcing being the new face for luxury designer during her Sweetener World Tour, shocking her fans and bringing a sense of freshness to the brand. However, with this fresh modern twist that the pop sensation brought, she made sure to incorporate the brand’s legacy and signature pieces but additionally embraced Givenchy’s most iconic face of their brand, Audrey Hepburn.
Long-term collaborators Hubert de Givenchy with Audrey Hepburn in his Paris workshop during the 1950’s, building one of their many iconic and ground-breaking looks. Photo courtesy of Sunset Boulevard/ Corbis via Getty Images, featured on The Guardian. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Hepburn’s loyal collaboration with founder of Givenchy, Hubert de Givenchy, supported her into becoming one of the most influential faces within fashion and also film industries in the 20th Century, with her effortless glamour and elegance, complimented by the couture Givenchy garments. This legacy between Hepburn and this fashion house remains iconic to this day, the association between the acting legend and the luxury designer being known throughout the entire fashion industry, influencing so many other brands, rocking and reshaping the fashion industry with her simple yet effortlessly chic and feminine style. It is this legacy that Ariana Grande takes inspiration from throughout her career over the past five years and, particularly, during her own Givenchy campaign.
Ariana Grande advertising her campaign with fashion giant, Givenchy Back in 2019, wearing a replica of Audrey Hepburn's iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s black dress. Photo courtesy of: Daily Mail, © All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
In this campaign video, Ariana Grande is wearing a replica of one of the most notable dresses in Hollywood, fashion and popular culture: Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy dress from her most iconic movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It was this movie where Hubert de Givenchy designed her character, Holly Golightly’s, entire wardrobe and where the power of the simple black dress was established; this fashion movement changing the industry and being references consistently since, Hepburn and Givenchy reshaping the view of what was once a boring and plain look that is now classed as classic, chic and timeless in luxury designer brands as well as the high street.
Owning a black dress is essential to so many of our wardrobes, the simplicity yet power and versatility the garment has is what Hepburn and Givenchy reminded the fashion industry in the 50s, that less can sometimes be more; it is this fashion movement that Hoebrun led that Ariana embodies, reminding us today of what Givenchy is really about, simplicity, effortless elegance and, of course, Audrey Hepburn.
This minimalist but eye-catching black dress, specifically, went down in fashion history as one of the most famous and influential dresses not only by Givenchy, but by any designer; so there’s no doubt why Ariana wanted to pay homage to not only the dress itself but to Hepburn’s cultural impact within fashion and film during her campaign.
Additionally, it wasn't too long after this iconic reference in her campaign that Ariana once again referenced the acting legend’s timeless sense of style. Her bridal gown in 2021 at her small and intimate wedding to her now ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, definitely took inspiration from old Hollywood with a modern touch, particularly from Audrey Hepburn’s wedding look in one of her most popular movies. Her dress was designed by American fashion designer, Vera Wang; a custom-made white, strapless, silk gown with an open, plunging back and sculpted neckline - effortlessly stunning. The simple yet chic gown was accompanied with a shoulder-length veil attached to her signature ponytail by a white satin bow.
Ariana Grande’s wedding on 15th May 2021, wearing custom Vera Wang and a Audrey Hepburn inspired veil. Image courtesy of Stefan Kohli for People. ©All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
This simple yet stand-out accessory was a clear tribute to Hepburn’s wedding look in the 1957 movie, Funny Face. Hepburn plays the lead role of Jo Stockton who marries fellow lead character, Dick Avery (played by fellow acting legend, Fred Astaire) in one of the most iconic wedding dresses in film and fashion history, Ariana using this vintage style as a source of influence for her big day. The similarity of the bowed, layered veils both Hepburn and Grande accessorized their dresses with is recognisable and a beautiful touch, with Hepburn being one of the singers’ biggest fashion inspirations, this was a wonderful tribute to her.
After breaking the internet posting her wedding pictures, Ariana gave us a little hiatus when it came to old Hollywood and Hepburn inspired looks, however, she made her comeback with her surprise appearance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony back in July of 2024 left fans and fellow observers of the event stunned and in awe. To promote the movie adaptation of the musical, Wicked, as well as support team USA, she arrived at the ceremony wearing a custom Thom Browne drop-waist, pleated dress in a gorgeous baby pink silk, incorporating her Wicked character Glinda’s love for pink.
Ariana Grande at the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony, wearing custom Thom Browne. Photo courtesy of Matthew Stockman/Getty images for Teen Vogue. ©All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The old Hollywood inspired dress accessorised by a pair of white silk gloves and a matching pink bow in her signature ponytail looked effortlessly glamorous as well as being a clear nod to the singer’s fashion role model, Audrey Hepburn. Ariana’s look stirred a lot of attention with its clear resemblance to Hepburn, the simple but chic drop-waist pleated design being one of the late actresses go-to styles of dresses to achieve her nostalgic feminine silhouette; the cultural impact this silhouette has had within the fashion industry and popular culture being a source of inspiration, upholding the late acting legends legacy to a large audience of Gen-Z, some of which may not be as aware of Hepburn’s impact and significance as others.
Audrey Hepburn during the 1950s wearing a baby pink, tea-length, A-line dress accompanied with white silk gloves. Photo courtesy of The Norman Parkinson Archive for The Evening Standard. © All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The pop star’s custom Thom Browne look seemed to take particular inspiration from Hepburn’s iconic pink, sleeveless, tea-length Givenchy gown with that drop-waist pleated design, so similar to Ariana’s, which she also paired with her staple accessory, the white silk glove; it’s this particular accessory that is so reminiscent and nostalgic of the fashion of the 1950s, shining through in the 21st Century.
The Paris Olympics was just the beginning of the abundance of vintage Hollywood-inspired looks Ariana fed us in 2024. Throughout the premiere and press tours promoting the movie adaptation of the musical, Wicked, Ariana used this as a chance to let her fashion inspirations shine; channeling her character Glinda through her love and nostalgia 50s and 60s fashion.
Ariana Grande’s custom Thom Browne A-line tea-length dress at the LA premiere of Wicked (left) and also wearing a custom peplum Louis Vuitton gown at the New York Wicked premiere abc in November, 2024. Photos courtesy of Valerie Macon/ Getty Images for Deadline (left) and Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Red Carpet Fashion Awards. ⓒ All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The style choices and vision made by Ariana and her stylist, Mimi Cuttrell at the LA and New York Wicked premieres undoubtedly take inspiration from her fashion idols, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe; channeling vintage Hollywood alongside her character in Wicked, Glinda; mixing Glinda’s signature colour pink with the vintage yet timeless style of gowns, using her her widely popular character within the current popular culture to channel her nostalgia and reminiscence of this era of fashion revolution, which Hepburn was at the forefront of.
Grande’s custom Thom Browne baby pink gingham tea-length dress paired with a matching bolero-style garment and matching bow in her hair clearly takes inspiration from Hepburn’s iconic tea dresses, the silhouette created by Grande in this dress being widely recognised as Hepburn’s iconic silhouette during the 50s and 60s that is consistently referenced throughout the fashion industry by designers; its impact within popular culture lasting over the years.
On top of this, the radiation of vintage Hollywood from from Grande’s custom Louis Vuitton magenta peplum gown at the New York Wicked premiere was stunning; channelling the notable silhouettes of this time period, in particular, Marilyn Monroe’s look in 1953 hit movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, during the iconic song, ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Bestfriend’, really showing us her love of fashion from this era. Marilyn was alongside Hepbrun when it came to leading a fashion and film revolution back in the 50s, changing the trajectory of both industries and, most significantly, for women within these industries too. In a recent interview for Access Hollywood at the 2025 National Board of Review, Ariana said, “I’ve always loved old Hollywood glamour. Marilyn [Monroe] and Audrey [Hepburn] have always been my references. I’ve always gravitated towards 50’s, 60’s silhouettes”.
The vintage-inspired looks didn’t end here, with Ariana Grande’s look for the first big award ceremony of the new year - the Golden Globes - channels her reminiscence of vintage Hollywood glamour that she confessed in the interview, while also incorporating her Wicked character, Glinda. She wore a vintage Givenchy gown; arguably being her most evident nod to Audrey Hepbrun yet. The 59-year-old archival dress channelled the yellow brick road of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz while reminding us of Givenchy’s Haute Couture history, which Audrey Hepburn was such a huge part of. As a society, we have come to treasure, and find love for vintage clothing, particularly in the last five years where we have seen more and more celebs like Grande choose vintage, archival pieces over new custom-made looks; the respect and reminiscence of the nostalgia and fashion culture within the 20th century inspiring so many red carpet looks today.
Ariana Grande in vintage, old Hollywood-inspired Givenchy at the Golden Globes 2025. Image courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for People. © All rights belong to their retrospective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Grande’s show-stopping pale yellow silk with the hand-beaded bodice paired with the white silk opera gloves, a small ponytail and short, side-swept bangs. These vintage, old Hollywood touches to the gown which were so distinctive of Hepburn caused a lot of conversation surrounding her fashion inspiration but also the possibility of playing the Hollywood legend in a future biopic. But why is Hepburn still so influential and referenced within the fashion industry today?
The timelessness and distinctive, feminine silhouette Hepburn brought to the fashion industry remains reminiscent and source of inspiration for so many designers. The minimalism creating a maximalist effect is something us fashion enthusiasts see within the industry time and time again; the power of the plain black dress and its versatility being something that Hepburn created in one of the most iconic movies of all time, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Her natural, feminine but chic look in this movie, in particular, not just changing the trajectory of fashion in the 50s and 60s but creating a sense of nostalgia in this present day, not only reminiscing of the fashion during this time period but also upholding it through the acting and fashion industry today. This effortless glamour and polished look that Hepburn and Givenchy curated together being referenced time and time again by brands and celebrities and her legacy will inevitably keep shining within the fashion industry for the years to come.
Despite not giving much away over the speculation of an Audrey Hepburn biopic, there’s no doubt that Ariana would not only look the part, but do the acting and Hollywood legend justice after her phenomenal performance and return to the acting industry in Wicked as well as her glamorous and old-Hollywood inspired wardrobe; personally I can’t wait to see what's next for Grande and the fashion industry, as we keep embracing vintage and archival pieces more and more, could we be seeing more nostalgic trends reminiscent of the 20th century and celebrities choosing archival over new?
