In 1952,Audrey Hepburn was in Rome,making the film Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck.She was engaged to James Hanson,a London 'playboy',and she asked a famous Italian designer,Zoe Fontana,to make her a dress for the wedding.
Signora Fontana said,'Audrey was 23.She was so young and so beautiful then.She tried the dress on many times.It was in white lace,with a lot of tiny buttons down the back,and she wanted to wear flowers on her head.'
But 2 weeks before the wedding,Audrey Hepburn decided not to get married.She phoned Zoe Fontana and said,'I've cancelled the wedding.But I want another girl to wear my wedding dress,perhaps a poor girl who could never pay for a dress like this one.Find a beautiful girl and give the dress to her.'
Signora Fontana found a poor 20-year-old girl in Latina,a town near Rome.She was exactly the same size as Hepburn and the dress fitted her perfectly.Her name was Amabile Altobello.
Signora Altobello said,'I wanted to get married,but my fiancé and I didn't have enough money for a wedding.When Audrey Hepburn gave me the dress it was like a dream come true.Everybody in the town was excited,and they also gave us furniture,and even organized a honeymoon for us in Paris.'
Today Signora Altobello is over 70 years old but she still has the dress.'We are still poor and we have had a hard life,but we have 3 daughters and five grandchildren.We have had a happy marriage,so the dress brought me luck.'
Signora Fontana said,'Audrey was 23.She was so young and so beautiful then.She tried the dress on many times.It was in white lace,with a lot of tiny buttons down the back,and she wanted to wear flowers on her head.'
But 2 weeks before the wedding,Audrey Hepburn decided not to get married.She phoned Zoe Fontana and said,'I've cancelled the wedding.But I want another girl to wear my wedding dress,perhaps a poor girl who could never pay for a dress like this one.Find a beautiful girl and give the dress to her.'
Signora Fontana found a poor 20-year-old girl in Latina,a town near Rome.She was exactly the same size as Hepburn and the dress fitted her perfectly.Her name was Amabile Altobello.
Signora Altobello said,'I wanted to get married,but my fiancé and I didn't have enough money for a wedding.When Audrey Hepburn gave me the dress it was like a dream come true.Everybody in the town was excited,and they also gave us furniture,and even organized a honeymoon for us in Paris.'
Today Signora Altobello is over 70 years old but she still has the dress.'We are still poor and we have had a hard life,but we have 3 daughters and five grandchildren.We have had a happy marriage,so the dress brought me luck.'
