Fashion
In Honor of Roman Holiday's 60th Anniversary, 10 Ingenious Style Lessons from the Film
This runaway-princess movie brought lovely Audrey Hepburn into the public eye, and she killed the role with her legendary elegance, spark, and bone structure. As a disenchanted princess, Hepburn sneaks out of the palace and scoots around Rome with a handsome journalist, cutting her hair, falling in love, and adjusting her one outfit with surprising ingenuity for a royal. There are many lessons to be gleaned from this film: Duty before love, being a princess is hard, and always carry a silk scarf for fashion emergencies.
This runaway-princess movie brought lovely Audrey Hepburn into the public eye, and she killed the role with her legendary elegance, spark, and bone structure. As a disenchanted princess, Hepburn sneaks out of the palace and scoots around Rome with a handsome journalist, cutting her hair, falling in love, and adjusting her one outfit with surprising ingenuity for a royal. There are many lessons to be gleaned from this film: Duty before love, being a princess is hard, and always carry a silk scarf for fashion emergencies.
Lesson #1: Formality is overrated
When you take in all the bells and whistles on this outfit — the tiara, the diamond necklace, the bows, the sash — you can understand why a princess might want a day off. Nobody wants to spend her life looking like a stunning china doll.
Lesson #2: Always choose a cute runaway outfit
Desperate times call for polished shirtwaists. Even in the heat of escaping the palace, this princess remembered the power of a nipped waist and a classic white button-down — the better to meet handsome strangers in.
Lesson #3: Looks are important for tour guides, too
When choosing the perfect escort to squire you around foreign European cities, it's okay to pick the one with the strongest jawline.
Lesson #4: You can always borrow his pajamas
Striped silk ones, please.
Lesson #5: The chicest disguise is a new haircut
Worried what your parents will do when they discover you've bolted from the castle? Duck into the nearest salon and emerge with a cropped new look that will take you from princess to popular.
Lesson #6: Roll up your sleeves
When even a classic white button-down isn't breezy enough for your European flirtation, roll your sleeves all the way up and unbutton your collar a bit. Now you can really take in the sights.
Lesson #7: A silk scarf will save you...
...from the irate Italian police and the monotony of having to wear the same outfit all day. Bonus: fold the scarf up, and it's small enough to fit in your wallet — if you carried money, that is.
Lesson #8: There's never just one way to wear a scarf
It fluttered around your bare neck as you Vespa'd around Rome; now, knot it under your collar for late-night slow dances.
Lesson #9: Always play hardball in black
Need to remind your stuffy supervisors that you're the princess here? A strong brow and a black coat help you deliver the message with royal panache.
Lesson #10: Exit a relationship with grace
Even if your international princess duties prevent you from staying with the love of your life, end the fairy tale with a wink, a gracious smile, and impeccable makeup. Priceless jewels never hurt, either. (If he liked it, then he should've put a tiara on it.)
