FIDM pays homage to 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' with its LBD exhibition

In the universe of fashion options, nothing's quite as flattering -- or as versatile -- as the little black dress. The wardrobe staple is so famed for its confidence-boosting abilities, it more often goes by its initials -- the LBD.

And no LBD is more iconic than the Givenchy frock Audrey Hepburn wore as Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Which is why the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising has based a new mini-exhibition of little black dresses on the ultimate sheath noir.

"LBD: An Homage to 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'," a free exhibition on display through Aug. 13 at the school's Museum & Galleries on the Park, showcases over a dozen LBDs from 1936 to 2011 -- wrangled from both the film and fashion worlds.

Standouts include Hubert de Givenchy’s line-for-line re-creation of the "Tiffany's" dress (on loan from Hubert de Givenchy Couture) and glam takes on the staple from Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet, Valentina and L.A.-based designers Monique Lhuillier, Kevan Hall and Chan Luu.

There are also illustrations by current students enrolled in FIDM’s Fashion Design, Film and Television Costume Design programs. Choosing a modern-day actress, each student re-imagined a "Breakfast at Tiffany’s"-style leading lady for 2011, and concocted an LBD of her very own.

FIDM Museum & Galleries on the Park, 919 S. Grand Avenue, 1st Floor, Los Angeles. (213) 623-5821, Ext. 2224. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy's LBD in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Credit: Getty Images