“[It’s] a mixture of French and American cultures,” says Fitoussi. As such, she blended layers of inspiration, too. Inspired by Truman Capote’s 1956 Black and White Ball — when socialite Amanda Burden repurposed a Cecil Beaton-designed gown from the Broadway production of My Fair Lady — Fitoussi envisioned a graphic look a là Audrey Hepburn, who starred in the film version of the play and is Emily’s frequent fashion inspiration. When it came to who would design the look, Collins connected Fitoussi with her friend and creative director of French heritage house Nina Ricci, Harris Reed. “The stripes are also Nina Ricci’s signature. So everything fit our requirements,” says Fitoussi.
