During the 1950s and '60s, what America wore, what its citizens drove, and how they looked, was, in a large part, dictated by Italy's trend setters, which included fashion designers, film directors and auto makers. If it originated in Italy, and the designer's name ended in a vowel, the American public was buying it.
Even our First Lady, Jackie Kennedy, was enamored with Oleg Cassini fashions. She set America's style pace in suits and jackets designed by Cassini. The film industry was, to a large degree, responsible for the public's newfound interest in the European way of life. With films such as Federico Fellini's, La Dolce Vita and La Strata, Italian moviemakers had stirred a lust in America's heart that hitherto had not been touched. Italy's "leave it till tomorrow" lifestyle and carefree attitude appealed to the American moviegoer, who quickly began to emulate the "dolce" lifestyle.
