Fashion in Light 1955–1975, the era of the Dolce Vita, is an exhibition on display in the Centrale Montemartini in Rome.
Rome as the centre of international taste
From 26 June to 15 November 2026, the Centrale Montemartini at the Capitoline Museums brings that unique era back to life with "Moda in Luce’ 1955–1975: ‘Rome between Glamour and Industrial Innovation," an exhibition that chronicles the period when the capital became the centre of international taste.
Film, fashion and art on display
The exhibition, organized by the Luce Cinecittà Archive and curated by Fabiana Giacomotti, is a fashion retrospective with over 150 photographs from the Luce Archive that take visitors on a journey through catwalks, ateliers, film premieres and encounters destined to go down in history. Alongside the images are period film clips, original documents and twenty-seven exquisite gowns designed by leading figures of Italian fashion: Valentino Garavani, the Fontana sisters, Roberto Capucci, Fernanda Gattinoni, Irene Galitzine, Federico Forquet, Renato Balestra, Emilio Schuberth, Laura Biagiotti and Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi, to name but a few.
Red Valentino Haute Couture Spring Summer 1959 dressThe famous Valentino red dress
Among the highlights of the exhibition are Valentino’s first fashion show in 1959, the famous "Fiesta" dress that established red as the house’s signature colour, Irene Galitzine’s elegant palazzo pyjamas, the extraordinary costumes created by Gattinoni for the cinema, and the creations worn by actresses, princesses and leading figures of international high society.
Made-to-measure shoes by the Fontana SistersAn engaging and fascinating cultural experience
The exhibition also looks beyond the glamour with ample space devoted to the industrial innovation that accompanied the growth of Italian fashion, with a focus on Snia Viscosa and the revolution in new fabrics. The exhibition design, inspired by the Roman ateliers of the 1950s and 1960s, draws visitors into an elegant and immersive journey, where photographs, garments, fabrics, magazines and film footage evoke the charm of an era that continues to inspire designers and creatives from all over the world. For those visiting the capital in the coming months, this exhibition offers a valuable opportunity to complement traditional archaeological tours with an engaging and fascinating cultural experience.
For information:www.centralemontemartini.org/it/mostra-evento/moda-luce-1955-1975-roma-fra-glamour-e-innovazione-industriale
