Love Letters
“Don’t you just love it?” asked Audrey Hepburn, who played Holly Golightly in the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's, as she walked into the Tiffany & Co. Flagship in Manhattan. Ever since that moment premiered in 1961, Tiffany’s has been synonymous with Audrey Hepburn and all things classy and lovely. It was no coincidence of course, Tiffany & Co. was and is one of the largest luxury jewelry brands in the world attracting clients far and wide to obtain that perfect little blue box for their loved ones. Each piece on display from the “Return to Tiffany” bracelet to the “Tiffany Diamond” has made its mark on the world of fashion, beauty, and elegance. These words can also be used to describe Hollywood royalty like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, who famously decreed “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in 1953. Decades later, Tiffany & Co. is displaying their affection for these two stars by showcasing handwritten love letters at the Manhattan flagship.
The Tiffany & Co. flagship shines like a diamond amongst the hustle and bustle of New Yorkers and yellow taxi cabs, attracting all to view its famous window displays that are carefully curated, like an art gallery, with delicate designs. The love letters on display for the Valentine season were no different, with preserved documents penned by Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe encased and on display in one of the most popular areas in Manhattan.
It was by chance that I happened to be in New York City during the timeline of this display so, like Holly herself, I walked Madison Avenue inquisitively to admire the love letters of legends. As I stepped toward the windows to view, I noticed two girls dressed in their best outfits, each holding one coffee and one croissant. They too were walking the steps of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and appeared in awe of the letters presented in the windows. The displays were a dreamy perfection of colors and graphics with baby pink and Tiffany Blue clouds as a backdrop to the necklaces, bracelets, and rings that accompanied the love letters. It was as though the letters and diamonds were pure sunshine in graceful contrast to the cloudy motions of the graphics. The glimmer from the diamonds pulled me closer to the solid ink letters that decorated the aging pages.
Audrey Hepburn’s display acquired my attention first with its Tiffany Blue box which was protecting a diamond engagement ring that appeared to be clear as crystal. My eyes then glanced up to read the lovely letter she delivered to dear friend Henry Mancini. Mancini composed Moon River, the famous song Hepburn performed in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It was Audrey herself who requested Mancini compose her film because, as she wonderfully writes in her letter, “A movie without music is a little bit like an aeroplane without fuel. However beautifully the job is done, we are still on the ground and in a world of reality. Your music has lifted us all up and sent us soaring”. Her gratitude to Mancini reminds us all of the legacy Breakfast at Tiffany’s left behind. Without the pair, we would not be able to fully understand the plights of Holly Golightly and how she was able to open her heart and embrace love at the end of the film.
Photo by Tiffany & Co. in Town & Country Magazine
Sealed with a kiss, Marilyn Monroe’s love letter simply states “I think love is the most important thing that can happen to you” and for the actress, this is true on and off screen. Marilyn led a complicated life full of romanticism and sorrows but it was the scenes filled with joy and love that allowed us, the audience, to build a relationship with the star. Most notably, we form an attachment with Lorelai Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with her realistic romantic advice and her adoration for diamonds. In the film, we receive one of the most iconic film scores of all time “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” but this song, beautifully performed by Marilyn, has more substance than the title describes. The lyrics describe an everlasting relationship that passes the tests of time and outlasts aging beauty.
Tiffany & Co. accomplishes this objective quite well with timeless diamond designs like the one that accompanies Marilyn Monroe’s love letter. Bestowed adjacent to the letter and lipstick print from 1962 is an interlocking golden jewelry piece with diamonds. Tiffany’s succeeded in creating a connection between past love and present artistry. As I withdrew from Marilyn’s display, an elderly couple holding hands took my place smiling in a discussion about love. Like Lorelai Lee, we all stood “straight at Tiffanys” admiring the treasures that last lifetimes.
Photo by Tiffany & Co. in Town & Country Magazine
Continuing my walk down Madison Avenue, I couldn't help but look back to see the Tiffany & Co. landmark glowing with life and love. It is Tiffany’s purpose to celebrate relationships with sparkling gifts with the highest standards of quality and luxury. Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe could not exemplify the soul of Tiffany & Co. more than when they blended the role of actress and character. Each nurtured a piece of Tiffany’s that we have come to cherish long after they have passed. Their legacy lives on in their letters and the love that they shared with their audiences.