So, Audrey Hepburn had been divorced from Mel Ferrer since 1968. In 1973 she wanted money for UNICEF
.. I had given two fashion shows already, in Brussels, Belgium and in Munich,Germany. I never wanted to do another one EVER!! Audrey Hepburn came into my boutique in the Puerto Banus, Marbella, Malaga, Spain, and said she wanted to have a fashion show to raise money for UNICEF. I was very reluctant, but, when the film fashion icon of all time said "dying-helpless-children"!!! I rolled right over!! If I had said no to her she could of ruined me socially and that would of put me out of business fast in a place like Marbella because social was the name of the game, with out that you were a nobody, no woman would come into buy a dress if that got around and it most definitely would have. She wanted a dress, and then to sell raffle tickets, and have a fashion show: (the dress that I gave for the show/raffel is on the woman in the top picture wearing it that night in a paparazzi picture).. So, anyway I said to her, "pick one".. I had just made this crepe de chine, silk dress, a lightweight green, shiny luster, evening dress and had just put it in the window, before she walked in, it cost $500. I loved the graceful texture, it was chromatic, great eye appeal, wrinkle resistance. She had CHIC - Givenchy was her dressmaker. "This one will do" she said. Then said something about me being a humanitarian and then she left, abruptly.. So, the next day the director of the Marbella Club Hotel, Count Rudi came in and he rolled his eyes as if to say she had steamrollered him too !!! "I guess we are doing a show", he said: That is the back story: My Blog story is: I had society women model, no problem getting them for an Audrey Hepburn event.. I called up some very beautiful tall women and the music I used, was Frank Zappa's 1969 album "Hot Rats" they moved to that music.. The Marbella Club Hotel set up a stage by the parking lot going down to the beach club they blocked off the whole hotel and the paparazzi had to stand on the highway, it started, early evening still some light and went into the night with a full bar after the show etc .. all the hot society women walking around in my dresses. I made sure there was lots of 'Cleavage'... Audrey Hepburn worked that show, she was dressed to kill in Givenchy, top to bottom and she was charming and 'aggressive', intimidating. If you thought she was just some little French waif like she played in the movies you would be very mistaken: A very tough cookie, The hotel had some nouveau rich guests that coughed up the most cash and she raised a lot of money, everybody gave something, then they let in the paparazzi for the pictures she had her picture taken with the big money charity donors, when she had the money she put it in the hotel safe ... I gave the dress and the overtime time of my seamstresses, sales girl etc .. Princess Jackie Lane Hohenlohe gave money and won the dress, but she gave it away, because, her husband owned the hotel, and she thought it looked kind of funny, again the women she gave it to is in the top picture.. Audrey Hepburn could REALLY throw her celebrity/society weight around when she wanted money for UNICEF. She was again a very tough cookie!! Don't kid yourself.. Not much like her movie roles - except she was really sexy, and pretty, but like all women with money/beauty/power she got what she wanted.. The pay off for me came later when Grace and Harold Robbins came to Marbella on there yacht and I gave them a lunch party at her old house in the Marbella Club Hotel that Mel Ferrer got in there divorce and was renting to my friend Joe Norban. They used to laugh at Mel Ferrer behind his back, because, she let him 'Think' he was the boss.. So, I invited her to the lunch party for Harold Robbins. Both were movie people!! She wasn't sure she could make it. I didn't tell Harold I had invited her. Didn't want to get his hopes up. I think because I did that fashion show. She did show up, alone, late , the very last one there, all in Givenchy from head to toe, the, jewelry, handbag, shoes, big sun classes, and when she walked threw the French doors to where we were sitting on the patio in her old garden by the sea: Harold Robbin's jaw hit the floor like a ton of bricks .. He was like a school boy, it was priceless. She did her Audrey Hepburn movie star, schtick !! Again: Audrey Hepburn could really throw her weight around when it came to UNICEF. If you knew what was good for you, you just said -YES- Miss Hepburn ..........
