Audrey Friday

Audrey and James Hanson circa 1952

It is said that Audrey claimed that her relationship with James Hanson was 'love at first sight' and was engaged to him in 1952 for a year. While filming Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck  She approached the highly renowned Italian designers, the Fontana Sisters to design her gown. Sadly, that wedding was not meant to be as Audrey had other plans. At that point, she was reaching great heights in her career, and decided that “That the demands of their careers would keep them apart most of the time.” so she called the wedding off.

However, the dress that she had had made by the Fontana Sisters was still at their shop, and it needed to be dealt with, so what did Audrey do? She gave her gorgeous, custom made dress away...to a young Italian woman  from the town of Latina, Italy. You see Audrey had asked the Fontana Sisters to give the dress away, saying “I want my dress to be worn by another girl for her wedding, perhaps someone who couldn’t ever afford a dress like mine, the most beautiful, poor Italian girl you can find.” So The Fontana Sisters found Amabile Altobella,  a poverty stricken young Italian girl engaged to be married to a farm worker named Adelino Solda. Here is a quote from Amabile, “I have had a happy marriage, so the dress brought me luck.” What a lucky gal!

Just goes to show how generous, and kind Audrey was... and one of the many reasons why I admire her...

Courtesy of Kerry Taylor auctions. 

Fondly yours,