Rossano Brazzi Biography - Chapter Fifteen

La Dolce Vita. The Sweet Life. London had the swinging sixties, San Francisco had flower power, Berlin had its bohemian phase. Rome had La Dolce Vita. Here we focus on that era, Rossano's memories of it and I introduce Rossano's little known tailor who went on to create one of the most exclusive fashion houses in Rome.

The photos here show Harry's Bar at the top end of Via Veneto just opposite the entrance to the Villa Borghese gardens. In its heyday, it would have been a magnet for celebrities, both Italian and global. It still has an air of old-world sophistication and, on the outside, there is a faded photo of Rossano who, of course, frequented this establishment.

Harry's Bar is always worth a visit. When I went in, I was being serenaded by Frank Sinatra over the PA system. The hustle and bustle of the Rome streets fades away and, for a short while, one can imagine that wonderful period during the 1950s when Rome was the place to be.

Of course, Fellini's La Dolce Vita, is a must-see movie to get an idea of what things were like in Rome at that time. It's widely available.

Angelo Litrico was one of Rossano's favoured tailors in Rome. He had quite a rags to riches story which you can read about in the book. His nephew, Luca, now runs this bespoke fashion house in the Parioli area of Rome - not far from the penthouse apartment where Rossano and Lydia used to live. Angelo's original shop was on the via Sicilia, just off the via Veneto.

Luca and his wife very kindly invited me to the fashion house and, in particular, the historical archives. It was fascinating and I had no idea that Angelo Litrico had made suits for so many celebrities, statesmen and even astronauts.

Here I am in front of the mirror that Angelo used. I was somewhat overwhelmed standing in front of a mirror where so many global personalities had stood before. Following on are some designs that Angelo drew and the wonderful table with scissor legs. Thank you to Luca Litrico for allowing me to show these photos.

This building was originally Georgio's, the restaurant that featured Rossano's chicken recipe on their menu for decades. It was one of the places to be during La Dolce Vita. Unfortunately, if fell on hard times and became a restaurant called Orlando's but that, since, has been boarded up. The only cafe that seems to remain in that area from the dolce vita era is Harry's Bar. Even the Cafe de Paris further down from Harry's Bar is now boarded up. But, at the time of writing this (2024), there were quite a few photos displayed on the wall outside showing various personalities of that era. Perhaps Rome should have a La Dolce Vita museum of some sort.

The Palatine, just down from the Colosseum is a place where Rossano, Lydia and a handful of others went dancing and singing in the middle of the night during the 1950s. With them was Margaret Truman, President Truman's daughter and famous Italian singer and comedian, Walter Chiari. It sounded a whole lot of fun with youthful exuberance taking over. At that time, of course, there was no security or barriers at The Palatine - you just went there. I'd have loved to have witnessed this particular event. This is all detailed in the book. The Palatine is just along from the Coloseum and well worth a visit.

This may well have been taken on the night the group went to The Palatine as the same people are here and the story regaled has them ending up at the Trevi Fountain. Here is Rossano, with friends and Lydia, by the Trevi Fountain.

From the left: Gene Lerner (Rossano's agent), Grui Lei, Erna Stenbuck, Rossano, Margaret Truman, Hank Kaufman (Rossano's agent) and Lydia.

This photo is attributed to Foto Arte Piero Spadoni Roma, dall'archivio di Lerner and Kaufman.

Here's a great photo of Rossano with Margaret Truman, president Truman's daughter. She was a familiar face in Rome during La Dolce Vita and there is a wonderful story in the book about her and Rossano.

The nephew of Luca Litrico very kindly copied some pages from his uncle's early measurement books. Unfortunately, they didn't go as far back as 1955, when Rossano had his measurements taken, but it is an insight into the way Angelo worked. You'll notice that one of these features Vittorio Gassman.

On the left is a photo of Angelo (holding the large bag). On the right is his nephew, Luca, who now runs the bespoke fashion house in Rome.

The jacket.

I had to put this on the website as well as in the book because I think it is stunning.

This is the jacket that Rossano first ordered from Angelo in 1955. It wouldn't look out of place today, would it? The story behind this jacket and its design is in the book. I must admit, when Angelo's nephew, Luca, first sent me this image, I was certain it was part of a modern advert until he told me it was Rossano's.

The jacket is now back at the fashion house, donated by the Brazzi family after his death. Luca has had to replicate this jacket for a couple of modern-day celebrities.