Sketch costume design for the motion picture, My Fair Lady, 1964. Gouache and graphite on paper. 456x288 mm; 18x11¼ inches (image). 23¾x16⅝ inches (frame). Signed in lower right image. Inscribed on verso of frame: "To Elizabeth (Lizzie), with all good wishes & thanks, Cecil Beaton 1968."
Cecil Beaton's design for the dress and hat worn by Audrey Hepburn in the iconic Ascot scene is a masterful blend of historical elegance and 1960s haute couture. Inspired by the Black Ascot of 1910-a horse race at Ascot Racecourse where attendees wore black to mourn King Edward VII, Beaton's creation perfectly mirrors Eliza's transformation. The scene, featuring costumes for 400 extras, is a dazzling display of campy, flamboyant, and theatrical brilliance.
