RALPH LAUREN

In later years, a more practical Audrey chose Ralph Lauren's stylish casual designs when hosting the 1991 documentary television series Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn, telling Lauren I love Givenchy for night, but I love your sport clothes for daytime. Lauren had met Hepburn a few years earlier when she had visited his flagship store in New York. I said how much of a fan I was and she said 'Well I'm a fan of yours,' and asked for my autograph. Hepburn and Lauren became such close friends that Audrey was chosen to present him with the Council of Fashion Designers’ Lifetime Achievement award on February 3, 1992 in New York. When Hepburn handed him the award, pulled her close and said to the audience You want to know what the lifetime achievement is? Steve, remember we went to the movies in the Bronx 30 years ago? Remember the princess? I got her! Lauren chose to include Audrey's emotional tribute as the foreword to his 2007 coffee table book: You’ve not only created a total concept of fashion and style, but by your consistency and integrity, protected it, always reminding us of the best things in life. As a designer, you conjure up all things I most care about—the country, misty mornings, summer afternoons, great open spaces, horses, cornfields, vegetable gardens, fireplaces and Jack Russell terriers. As a man, I respect you for your total lack of pretension, for your gentleness, kindness, sincerity, simplicity. And as my friend, I love you.