Exhibition poster

“Fifties” by Beatrice Brandini

In Rome, at the Boncompagni Ludovisi Museum, the FIFTIES IN ROME exhibition celebrates the fashion of the fifties and the Made in Italy.

A glimpse of the Fifties in Rome exhibition

In the decades that followed the Second World War, the world was legitimately pervaded by an economic boom with a consequent desire for rebirth. Italy, unlike other countries, was good at capitalizing on its artistic and cultural heritage, its capacity for resilience, the craftsmanship and creativity that have always distinguished our country, creating an attractive hub between the Cinecittà and fashion.

A glimpse of the Fifties in Rome exhibition

Rome quickly became “the place to be”, an important and loved point of reference throughout the world, celebrated in the iconic shot of Anita Ekberg’s bath in the Trevi fountain in La Dolce Vita.

The exhibition aims to underline and valorize brands of the caliber of Gattinoni, Antonelli, Fabiani, Schubert became highly coveted by the entire international jet set, names subsequently somewhat forgotten, capable instead of creating couture dresses of extraordinary features and beauty.

An extraordinary image of one of the internal rooms of the Villino Ludovisi

The exhibition, curated by Stefano Dominella, a collector to whom many of the clothes on display belong, is hosted in the precious Villino Ludovisi, a 1901 project by the architect Giovanni Battista Giovenale, at the request of Prince Luigi Boncompagni Ludovisi. Very close to the famous Via Veneto, a much loved (and hated) street for the shots stolen by the paparazzi from Hollywood stars in those years.

A glimpse of the Fifties in Rome exhibition

In these wonderful rooms you can admire grand evening dresses which today, unfortunately, if not in the couture characterized by amount with many zeros, are unachievable due to the hours of work and above all due to the skill and talent of many female workers (embroiderers, seamstresses , milliners…).

A glimpse of the Fifties in Rome exhibition

A green taffeta dress worn by Marella Agnelli stands out, while the majestic dress in white silk crepe with a basket-draped bodice by Fernanda Gattinoni stands out. Dresses worn by Lana Turner, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Magnani.

“It is not often that fashion is celebrated in Rome, yet from the end of the 1940s, it was precisely in the capital that some of the most talented fashion creators gave life to their activities with an artistic flair of such magnitude as to determine the rise and the consolidation of Made in Italy throughout the world” Stefano Dominella

A glimpse of the Fifties in Rome exhibition

Every time I go to Rome, I have repeated it many times, I am captivated by every glimpse, this city is an open-air museum, it has an artistic and cultural heritage that has no equal in the world. Small jewels like this museum are almost a habit in this city, but unfortunately they are often little known, little appreciated. I understand that managing such a large tourist city is difficult, but, as for Florence, I am sorry to see it hurt by neglect and dirt, as well as by the rudeness of those who do not understand the beauty of Rome, a heritage of all humanity.

Good life to everyone!

Beatrice