Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Style Icon as a Lifelong Lie

The 1961 film, produced in Hollywood, shows us the glittering facade in the New York life of Holly Golightly. She went there at the age of 18 to find herself and to clarify her goals in life. We learn this from flashbacks of her friends and even more: a neglected child from precarious circumstances rises to become a glamour girl; today, we would say IT girl. The fact is she earns her money as a prostitute. The charm and impudent wit of the protagonists seduce not only her numerous admirers but also the viewers to get caught up in the glittering façade without looking or listening: what does “toilet money” actually mean? Regardless, this film also paved the way for a revolution in the image of women in the 1960s, as far as Hollywood’s self-importance and censorship allowed. This article invites the reader to take a closer look at this multifaceted film, which initially appears superficial.