11 Italian Beauties Who Make the Case for La Dolce Vita

The 10 Most Iconic Italian Beauties of All Time Inline

With Milan Fashion Week kicking off today, there's no time like the present to celebrate the women of Italy.

Of course, it’s hard to speak about Italian women without a nod to Cinecittà, the largest film studio in Europe which gave birth to thousands of feature films—and nearly as many high-glamour heroines to match. Who wasn’t captivated, after all, by the sight of Gina Lollobrigida’s raven curls, fiery lips, and dramatically arched brows as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Or Fellini muse Claudia Cardinale’s gravity-defying bouffant and eyelash-grazing fringe in 8 1/2? Consider Monica Vitti, who, with the help of her plush lips, rumpled blonde bob, and thick, feline flick, seduced Gabriele Ferzetti without hardly uttering a word in Antonioni’s masterpiece, L’Avventura.

Fashion, too, has seen its fair share of belle donne. Before becoming France’s first lady, Turin-born supermodel Carla Bruni ruled the runway with her piercing stare and high cheekbones, while Mariacarla Boscono’s wide-set eyes and alabaster skin brought a haunting allure to the pages of Vogue.

Today, fresh-faced beauties like Vittoria Ceretti have helped usher in a more natural aesthetic, while such ageless stunners as Isabella Rossellini and Sophia Loren seem to only gain appeal. Here, for Milan Fashion Week, a look at the most striking Italian beauties of all time.