Zooming past the Colosseum on a Vespa, chic neckerchief perfectly in place? It could only be Audrey Hepburn in – or perhaps, ? Yes, the Netflix romance has touched down in the Italian capital for the grand finale of . In 1953, the city was immortalised in that single image. was Audrey Hepburn’s breakout role – one for which she won an Oscar.
Also starring Gregory Peck, the film tells the story of Princess Ann, who longs for respite from her royal duties and escapes into the Eternal City, meeting and falling in love with an American journalist. And 71 years later, it's reincarnated in . Mysterious European love interest from a powerful family? Check.
Falls for an American? Check. Audrey Hepburn lookalike? Well, Lily Collins is biblically accurate. Indeed, Netflix has paid homage to with all the same charm, romance and magic as the original.
And it’s mostly the wardrobe we have to thank, the show stopping work of costume designer Marylin Fitoussi. In its best and most faithful look, Lily Collins sports a beautiful rendition of that iconic Vespa outfit: a black, vintage Alaïa skirt, white shirt and blue-and-white neckerchief. Elsewhere, the fashion is classic, with a modern Emily twist.
She dances the night away at a rooftop party in chic polka dots and graces the Muratori meeting in an all-white, embellished suit (reminiscent of a Dior bar jacket, it’s very princess). Lily Collins told : ‘It felt, to me, like a real departure for Emily, and more Italian, more holiday vacation vibes, and more practical running around with flats. It just felt cinematic.
’ While fans were quick to spot the similarities from the trailer, nods to other Hepburn films may have been missed. At the Bavazza party, Emily wears a black gown, black opera gloves and her hair in a bun – much like Hepburn in . That Megève fur coat, fluffy hat and large sunglasses look? A nod to the 1963 film – which, incidentally, is also about an American expat living in Paris.
But it’s not all about the fashion. Just as sees Princess Ann secretly escape the embassy into the city during a strictly scheduled royal tour, Marcello is eager to escape the notoriety of his name. Scion of a family brand whose goats make the best cashmere in all of Europe, he once left Rome to study in London because he had tired of everyone at home knowing his family.
He might not be a prince, but he is best friends with JVMA heir Nicolas de Leon, skis in Megève and plays polo in Paris – so close enough. Emily faces her own conflict, unsure of whether to prioritise her blossoming relationship with Marcello or a marketing deal with his family’s firm. In the 1953 classic, Gregory Peck plays Joe Bradley, an American journalist tasked with covering the princess’s press conference before unwittingly discovering her out on her escapade.
Should he publish the scoop or follow his heart? Joe learns the same lesson as Emily: true love conquers all. Call that ..
