PENELOPE’S is honoured to celebrate the effortless and sophisticated elegance of Anouk Aimée by presenting extracts from her wardrobe. A total of 130 garments and accessories that tell her story will be auctioned from February 28 to March 10 on the Drouot platform. Manuela Papatakis, daughter of Anouk Aimée, is the initiator of this auction, inspired by her mother’s suggestion.
„Nicole Françoise Florence Dreyfus known professionally as Anouk Aimée or Anouk, was a French film actress who appeared in 70 films from 1947 until 2019. Among her films are Federico Fellini’s La dolce vita (1960), after which she was considered a “rising star who exploded” onto the film world. She subsequently acted in Fellini’s 8½ (1963), Jacques Demy’s Lola (1961), George Cukor’s Justine (1969), Bernardo Bertolucci’s Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1981) and Robert Altman’s Prêt à Porter (1994). She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her acting in A Man and a Woman (1966). The film “virtually reignited the lush on-screen romance in an era of skeptical modernism” and brought her international fame.
She won the Award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for Marco Bellocchio’s film A Leap in the Dark (1980). In 2002, she received an honorary César Award, France’s national film award. Aimée was known for her “striking features” and beauty and considered “one of the hundred sexiest stars in film history”, according to a 1995 poll conducted by Empire magazine. She often portrayed a femme fatale with a melancholy aura. In the 1960s, Life magazine commented: “after each picture her enigmatic beauty lingered” in the memories of her audience, and called her “the Left Bank’s most beautiful resident”.”
An iconic international figure of Parisian chic, Anouk Aimée embodies a singular femininity — infused with mystery and sensual grace — that has inspired legendary filmmakers such as Federico Fellini, Jacques Demy and Bernardo Bertolucci, all captivated by her magnetism and unique on-screen aura. From the 1960s onward, under the influence of her friend Coco Chanel, she became the symbol of a refined, understated style, an aesthetic that mirrored her acting: introspective, minimalist, yet infinitely expressive. This style reached its pinnacle in Un Homme et une Femme (1966) by Claude Lelouch, where her enigmatic presence and profoundly captivating gaze mesmerised both the screen and audiences worldwide.
In the 1980s, her collaboration with Emanuel Ungaro marked a notable evolution in her style. More structured lines defined her silhouette, emphasising a powerful and assured femininity. Immortalised by William Klein, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton, Anouk Aimée emerged as an ever-evolving icon, transcending trends and infusing each era with the modernity of a style uniquely her own. She remains the embodiment of discreet yet universal chic, an icon whose luminous aura, both powerful and delicate, continues to inspire new generations.
PENELOPE’S organises thematic auctions throughout the year, directly accessible from its website in collaboration with the Drouot platform. The schedule of the upcoming auctions:
- 31 January / 10 February 2025: Fashion Valentine 2025
- 14/24 February 2025: Italian vintage fashion #1
- 28 February / 10 March 2025: Anouk Aimée
- 14/24 March 2025: Paris vintage #3, fashion & jewelry
- 28 March / 7 April 2025: Prada & Miu Miu #2
- 11/22 April 2025: Dior Jewelry collection by Hedi Slimane
- Spring 2025: Paco Rabanne collection
- Spring 2025: Gianfranco Ferré
The good style: PENELOPE’S offers an eclectic selection curated in tune with the spirit of the times through thematic auctions. Its favored inspirations? Legendary luxury houses, iconic designers from past decades, forgotten talents, and authentic brands from everyday life.
The good deal: At PENELOPE’S, prices are determined by the meeting of supply and demand at the moment the hammer falls, with the guarantee of rigorous authentication and precise expertise. Here, the range is embraced—from an everyday garment bought for €80 to a Kelly bag won for €5,000 to a metallic Paco Rabanne dress from the 1960s sold for €100,000.
The good vibes: Considering style as the dominant form of expression for new generations and the inevitable democratisation of auctions, what could be more fitting than to inaugurate PENELOPE’S today? A tailor-made space to celebrate fashion in all its forms. Fashion here is a playground where the rules are unique to each individual.
Source: PENELOPE’S PR
