How to dress for ‘La Dolce Vita’ at Goodwood Revival

The Ballet Flats: Effortless, Roman Holiday Elegance 

Post-war Italian fashion found its defining stage in Florence, where the country’s craftsmanship and luxury credentials drew global attention. Film stars became its most glamorous ambassadors, none more influential than Audrey Hepburn, whose Salvatore Ferragamo ballet slippers in Roman Holiday accompanied her through the streets of Rome on a Vespa. A year later during Sabrina, Ferragamo created a signature suede ballet flat for Hepburn: a minimalist design that fused comfort with effortless elegance.  

For this year’s Revival, ballet flats are the perfect shortcut to understated mid-century chic. It reflects the moment Italian accessories redefined luxury through wearable sophistication rather than rigid formality. Pair a vintage-style flat with a structured leather bag to nod to the heritage of houses such as Gucci and Prada, and you’ll achieve a look that is both timeless and comfortable. 

The Silk Scarf: Jet-Set Glamour, Carefree Panache 

Few accessories evoke the sun-soaked glamour of mid-century Italy quite like a silk scarf. In the Jet Age, Capri became both a playground for the international elite and the launchpad for Emilio Pucci’s label in 1950, whose vibrant geometric prints came to define resort style. Italian silk reached another iconic moment in 1966, when Gucci created its celebrated Flora print for Princess Grace of Monaco, cementing the scarf as a symbol of the era’s luxurious ease. 

At Revival, a silk scarf is an easy way to channel the spirit of ‘La Dolce Vita’. For a playful look, tie a vibrant printed neckerchief at the throat in a nod to Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday style. For something more understated, take inspiration from Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief with a neutral silk scarf draped with quiet elegance. Whether bold or minimal, this is a look you can source second-hand and pair with ballet flats for timeless sophistication with modern ease. 

The Slim Tie: Masters of Sprezzatura and Sharp Tailoring 

Marcello Mastroianni’s wardrobe in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita remains the ultimate blueprint for masculine Italian style. His effortless sprezzatura introduced audiences to the ‘Italian Cut’: a slimmer, softer, more modern alternative to traditional British tailoring. Popularised by Roman houses such as Brioni, this sleek silhouette was often finished with one defining accessory — the slim tie, which replaced the wider styles of previous decades and became a symbol of cool mid-century sophistication. 

A slim tie is an easy way to bring tailored elegance to the Revival. Pair it with a sharp suit, a striped or subtlety patterned shirt and dark sunglasses for a nod to Mastroianni’s Roman nonchalance. The narrower shape keeps formalwear feeling polished, contemporary and perfectly in step with the spirit of ‘La Dolce Vita’. 

The Single-Breasted Suit: Sleek Lines and Anglo-Italian Cool 

Sharp Italian tailoring reached a cinematic high point in The Italian Job, where Michael Caine’s immortal line, “Take me to my tailor,” set the tone for a film steeped in style. Although his single-breasted suits were made in London by Doug Hayward, their look was shaped by the slimmer, leaner Italian silhouettes that had transformed menswear since the 1950s and filtered into British Mod culture through the tonic suit. From the tailoring to the Mini Coopers, the film presented Italian structure as the uniform of the modern gentleman. 

For this September’s Revival, a well-cut single-breasted suit is the easiest route to polished, cross-cultural sophistication. Look for slimmer lapels and a fitted silhouette, then pair it with a crisp shirt and a slim tie for a nod to mid-century Italian style.

The Leopard-Print Coat: Cinematic Drama and Bold Luxury 

Italian cinema of the 1950s offered no shortage of style inspiration, and few looks are more memorable than Ingrid Bergman’s leopard-print coat in Roberto Rossellini’s Journey to Italy. Worn against the backdrops of Naples and Pompeii, it became a striking emblem of mid-century sophistication and cinematic drama. In this golden age of Italian film, animal print emerged as a symbol of Cinecittà glamour — bold, luxurious and unapologetically confident. 

A leopard-print coat or jacket is an easy way to add high-fashion drama to your look. Thrown over a simple silhouette, it channels Bergman’s jet-set elegance while remaining surprisingly wearable. Vintage and second-hand boutiques are still full of great options, and paired with ballet flats, the result feels both timeless and unmistakably ‘La Dolce Vita’. 

Ultimately, mid-century Italian style was never meant to stand still; it was designed to be experienced in motion. This September, we aren’t just celebrating clothes but honouring the entire fast-paced lifestyle of the era. 

Where to shop

For those looking to source the perfect, authentic pieces ahead of September, we highly recommend diving into the exceptional collections of storefronts and specialist websites like Hannah George, Mgoya Vintage, Vault Vintage, Rellik, and Frank Akinsete, or exploring the archives at Hope & Harlequin and Blackout II. Digital marketplaces like Vestiaire, Vinted and Etsy, meanwhile, remain fantastic shortcuts for a swift online hunt.  

To truly elevate your look at the event, our incredible line-up of on-site exhibitors, including The Looking Glass, Ballroom Emporium, Froggy Went Courting, OXFAM, and Cherry Picked Vintage, will be trading across the three days, packed with rare finds and statement pieces to perfectly complete your ensemble.

And for an instant hit of aesthetic inspiration, head over to the Revival Style channel to unlock the ultimate blueprint for your ‘La Dolce Vita’ weekend and beyond.   

Tickets for the 2026 Goodwood Revival are now on sale, with Saturday tickets 96 per cent sold. Book before the final price rise at 23:59 on Tuesday 30^th June to save on your tickets and 3-Day Passes. 

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, you can sign up to the Fellowship today and save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoying a whole host of other on-event perks.  

Main image courtesy of Getty Images.