Claudia Cardinale, one of the great ladies of Italian cinema, has passed away at the age of 87. She will be remembered not only for her remarkable talent on screen but also for her devotion to costume. Throughout her career, the actress developed the habit of keeping garments and accessories from the films she starred in, becoming over time a guardian of some of cinema’s most iconic pieces.
In 2022 she surprised audiences by releasing up to 130 items from her wardrobe for auction. Among them stood out the iconic Nina Ricci gown, covered in black sequins and pink flowers, which she wore to the 1965 Oscars, as well as an elegant fuchsia organza design from her first appearance at Cannes in 1961.
Her collection also featured costumes from the films she starred in — pieces she once described as “unforgettable memories” from each shoot. “I loved collecting costumes from the movies I acted in. I also adored taking home traditional outfits from the countries I visited,” she once confessed.
With her passing, European cinema bids farewell to an irreplaceable artist and a passionate custodian of the sartorial memory of the silver screen.
Watch the 1963 trailer of The Leopard with Claudia Cardinale
