Welcome to our world
T h e t a i l o r o f v i a V e n e t o
Known for his timeless elegance and artisanal quality,
Ferdinandi revolutionized haute couture
with his sophisticated tailored suits, dressing celebrities
and high-society ladies around the world,
while also establishing his distinctive stylistic signature
through a visionary and refined flair for footwear
J u s t a b o u t t o m a k e s o m e h i s t o r y
The tailor
of via Veneto
Born in Newark, New Jersey,
on November 29, 1920, and raised
in New York, Vincenzo Ferdinandi
left the United States to settle
in Rome, his adopted city
‘Hollywood sul Tevere’
Ingrid Bergman, Anna Magnani,
Gina Lollobrigida; the Ferdinandi atelier on Via Veneto became
one of the most exclusive venues in the capital and a prelude
to La Dolce Vita
Ferdinandi thrilled buyers
and was among the most representative fashion houses
to show, thus marking the beginning of the great success of Made in Italy
1952
Opening
of Palazzo Pitti
She walked for Maison Ferdinandi
in 1953 at Palazzo Pitti,
and it caused a scandal!
The first Black model
in Italy
Ferdinandi, together with other great couturiers, founded SIAM
and established Rome as the capital of fashion
Originally “Italian High Fashion Syndicate,”
it became CNMI
in the late 1950s
Jennifer Jones and the 1954 Academy Award
for Best Costume Design
When fashion was still free, before
the world learned to turn every creative gesture into spectacle
A journey through the history of our couture, through the stories that gave life
to fashion as we know it today
A lasting legacy
T H E H I D D E N G E M S T O R Y
F r o m W o n d e r l a n d t o R o m e
T h e B u n n y B a l l e r i n a S h o e s
In the suspended atmosphere of 1950s Rome, shaped by the spirit of La Dolce Vita,
accessories too became a field of experimentation, opening up to a more imaginative dimension.
Ferdinandi did not limit himself to garments: his creative vision also embraced luxury shoes, hats, and bags, turning each accessory into an extension of his own world.
In 1955, at a time when femininity was becoming more dynamic and modern, Ferdinandi captured the spirit of the era by creating an innovative, visionary ballet flat. These shoes - already embraced and made iconic by stars such as
Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot - became the starting point for a radical idea:
transforming an everyday object into a small work of art.
Ferdinandi reimagined them in a whimsical, fantastical form. His ballet flats came to life with bunny ears, lively eyes,
and curious whiskers, becoming almost animated presences - part object, part story.
The world of 'Alice in Wonderland' emerges as a subtle yet recognisable reference, also made explicit
in a version decorated with playing cards.
These creations open up a new space in fashion: no longer just elegance or function, but pure invention.
And yet, despite their boldness, Ferdinandi never gives up on style. The lines remain harmonious, the materials refined, and irony is balanced by a highly sophisticated sense of design.
The press - especially in Britain - welcomed these unconventional ballet flats with enthusiasm.
The British market celebrated them as a symbol of Italian creativity, capable of surprising without losing refinement.
In an era defined by strict rules and clear aesthetic codes, Ferdinandi stands out as an innovator: a designer
who takes risks with grace.
His ballet flats are more than shoes - they are stories to be worn.
And, like in a modern fairytale, those who wear them step into a world where fashion and imagination meet,
walking the line between dream and reality.
"It's impossible!"
"Only if you believe it is."