The Hepburn Index: Audrey or Katharine, which one are you?

Hepburn. Surely one of the world’s most stylish surnames. Do those two syllables conjure the perfect LBD or a pair of sharply cut wide leg trousers? Breakfast at Tiffany’s or a brisk walk and game of tennis? Audrey and Katherine Hepburn have left not only a celluloid legacy of Hollywood’s most golden films, but a flat shoed footprint on how we define style. Trends may come and go, but the Hepburns are forever. 

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” Although an icon of equal sparkle to Audrey, if you’re not a fan of golden oldies you may have overlooked Katharine. After all, her visage hasn’t been printed on tea towels and nail files and coffee cups (unlike the cigarette holder wilding beehived Holly Golightly). This is mostly Katharine’s own doing. She was fiercely private and refused to play the Hollywood game (Katharine was so private that she managed to keep a 26-year affair with co-star Spencer Tracy secret). She will always be known for her gorgeous wide leg trousers – the perfect antidote to current day skinny jean fatigue. If you’ve spent the last 5 years squeezed into skinnies – the thought of loose fabric flapping about your pins may seem frightening but we implore you to give it a try. They can be just as liberating and modern as they were in the 1940s when Katharine wore them as a defiant symbol of independence against being moulded by the Hollywood machine into another powder puff. This season’s menswear tailoring is a fabulous nod to Hepburn’s classic look, and you can soften it with sumptuous silk blouses and linen shirts. Top tips: tuck in your blouse, love a loafer (or oxford shoe) and layer shirts over polo necks.

Like Katharine, Audrey is a queen of the capsule wardrobe. A harmonious, tight edit of cropped cigarette trousers, black roll necks, simple white shirts, a trench coat and of course – the little black dress (we are also a fan of the little blue dress – and navy and black always look chic together). Simple, high-quality pieces that offer a wonderful foundation for any wardrobe. Buy less, love more. Although Audrey’s style is more classically feminine than Katharine’s, both Hepburns opted for streamline silhouettes, avoided unnecessary fuss, focused on fit and didn’t bother bending to the whims of fashion. This is what makes their style endure.

There is one bag that we feel suits all the Audreys and Katharines out there. Unfussy, timeless and chic – our new Rose bag is the perfect balance between tradition (with its subtle nostalgia) and modernity (with its sleek structured simplicity).

“I designed the bag inspired by the first handbag my mother gave me” Sarah Haran explains. “I have always loved the vintage feel of older handbags so decided to use the structured shape to create my first occasion mini handbag. The bag is named after my mother - Pamela Mary Rose.” The Rose is an elegant mini handbag that will take you from day to night with ease. “It’s roomy enough to hold all you need for a modern evening out. Phone, card, keys and of course, lippy!”