By now you know that I have a fairly obsessive crush on Audrey Hepburn. And that I borrow (or at least try to borrow) all my style cues from her. If possible, I would like nothing better than to float around the cobblestoned streets of Rome and the glittering aisles of Tiffany’s, wearing pretty Givenchy dresses and ballerina flats, carrying a straw basket, ‘kerchief tied under my chin, with the most gamine cat’s eye, winged brows and forehead-skimming bangs.
So, you can imaging my delight at the release of Luca Dotti’s brand new coffee table book called Audrey in Rome, which contains more than 200 rare and unseen photographs of the legendary actress, fashion icon and humanitarian. After all, who better than Luca – Audrey’s own son – to document this behind-the-scenes love affair of ‘Ann’ with Rome, her adopted city?
Rome, after all, was not just the place that gave Audrey her first big hit. And her second husband, the psychiatrist Andrea Dotti. It was also the city that embraced her and held her in its protective cocoon. It was the place where she walked her children to school and strolled for miles with her dogs, without the accompanying cacophony of press photographers and gawking fans.
In Rome, the girl who once wanted to become a ballerina and who, at 16, survived by eating turnips and boiled tulip bulbs in Nazi-occupied Holland, could finally come out to play.
And in return, Audrey became Rome. In Luca’s own words, “… an icon of the city, an icon of a different, free-and-easy Roman spirit that was symbolized by a girl who traveled the world on a Vespa.” Audrey was Rome. And Rome was Audrey.
And here are a few rare vignettes from that charmed life – all courtesy Luca Dotti. Which one is your favorite?
Ron says
Thank you !