A Memoir from Rome

The Augustean Altar of Peace (Ara Pacis), a shrine for the return of Augustus from Gaul and Hispania, made of pure white marble now enclosed in modern interiors, renders peace as one enters. White, a symbol of death in some cultures, and peace in some others, surrounds the brain into a clean slate before we ride back in time through the retro-hued passageway below, with pictures from around Rome – Trinità dei Monti to Cinecittà. Yes, and there were moccasins in between. Not the soft soled sheepskin types from New Zealand, but the ones we now call Vintage - well polished leather and with a buckle. Roman Holiday, a beautiful love story of two never-to-be-united lovers is also a fun reminder of the Vespa and the jaunty Audrey Hepburn. Pictured around Rome, Audrey could exhibit a lifestyle of the metropolis. Her signature style basket bag, huge sunglasses and The LBD, simple and sleek from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, an American preppy yet French gamine use of loafers in Funny Face, an attitudinal headscarf usage and the casual look were all revolutionary yet chaperoned trends at the time. Pieces of style they were, appreciated by all. Alongside thecae with some of her wardrobe was the wonderful timeline she spent in Rome. Her accessories and the moccasins seemingly of a size 39 were also encased. A sleek gown from Valentino with hippy and boudoir styles seen on the sleeves during her family life with Andrea Dotti in the 70s was swiftly captured by the Roman Paparazzi. In the photos, Audrey always gently greets the camera with grace. Going back to the mini skirt period of the 60s, Audrey pairs them daintily with white stockings and the legendary XL sunglasses. Her elegance was never excess which made her style ever-appealing. Her first stays in Rome in the 50s are portrayed with her use of a lot of cocktail dresses, the Sabrina neckline and the LBD just below the knee on her slender figure. From the 50s through the early 70s she has had a flourishing career after which she elegantly grasps on to the role of a mother. In 1988, Audrey travelled to Somalia and described the situation of insurgency there as ‘hell’. The travel moved her soul so much so that she continued to work with UNICEF and the museum now donates a portion of the exhibit’s income to the same. Audrey personally didn’t sense much of a self-confidence regarding her looks which she believed were amazingly photographed and was the work of the cameras in the movies. Her script from Roman Holiday, with her hand-written notes is preserved at the core of the exhibit hall and so are the Vespa she drove in the same movie at the back and her original British passport, all of which reminisce the lively finesse of Audrey. On the wall facing the Vespa, is projected her personal family videos (never shown to the public before). The second wedding of her life interestingly portrays her in the video with a short pink coat dress also in display. Seemingly mature and simple, it adds to her girly style at the same time. One continues to bear in mind, the image of her childish smile, and her seagull wing-shaped eyebrows concordant with her jaw line while taking one’s leave through the passageway back to the white, clean-cut exteriors of Ara Pacis and the inescapable Souvenir gift shop.