The Aristocrats

When four aristocratic young ladies from Rome become models for the illustrious house of Fendi, magic is inevitable.

Paris may be the city of romance, arts and fashion, but in many aspects, Rome can make the French capital blush. Besides the unparalleled collection of ancient ruins and heritage structures, the ghosts of last century’s icons-such as Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luchino Visconti and Sergio Leone—continue to haunt the streets here. The heart of Rome continues to beat fast and this is probably because of two of the biggest pillars of Roman life: the house of Fendi and the aristocratic society. These two institutions have managed to co-exist harmoniously as they share certain values, a common love for this city, a passion for beauty, a fascination for heritage as well as the art of not only living in style, but also in keeping with modern times.

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Fendi has been able to blend its unique savoir-faire with current trends, thereby catering to a vast clientele. The recent Karlito charms are the perfect example of this. In a similar vein, the descendants of Rome’s oldest aristocratic families are evolving to keep abreast of changing times. They grew up in mansions that are like museums, with priceless collections of art at every corner, surrounded by memories of their past—popes, Vatican bankers, illustrious army chiefs and more. Today, they are going beyond the glamour of the palace life and want to lead more liberated lives, free from the shackles of the major-domo and protocol. Today, four of them take on the role of modelling for Fendi and showcase the fur creations from the “Pequin” collection, only to prove that Rome truly is the eternal city.

Maria Sole Torlonia, 29 years

This young woman, whose middle name means sun in Italian, is assertive and confident about what she wants from life. Descendant of the Agnelli family (which means she is the cousin of Lapo Elkann, among 30 others), Maria Sole is certainly not one of those princesses who sits around all day counting her pairs of shoes. Like many other members of her family, she was not afraid to take the business route. After having lived in Milan and Florence amongst many other places, Sole created Blazé, a brand of bespoke jackets, because she was not able to “find the right fit”. Today, the brand is making waves. Her family made a fortune in the 17th century as the official accountants of the Vatican. Cleary, it is in her blood to succeed in business.

Your first Fendi piece?

“I remember it very well. It was a small little bag embroidered with fur. It was really unique.”

Sofia Odescalchi, 21 years

She is the very quintessence of a paradox. Coming from a long line of aristocrats, among whom was Benedetto, who became Pope Innocent XI in 1676, Sofia Odescalchi is a fiery young lady who speaks her mind. As a teenager, during her mandatory finishing school, she suddenly became obsessed with piercings. However, she no longer has them. Though she had met popes Jean-Paul II, Benedict XVI and the new Pope Francis, she says that her life will be complete the day she bumps into Quentin Tarantino. She could have a promising career as a fashion model — she once modelled for Dolce & Gabbana, but she prefers to remain anonymous and dreams of being a photographer for National Geographic someday. Is that all she’s thinking off? “Right now, I am dreaming of a gin and tonic with pepper and juniper berries!” she says.

Your first Fendi piece?

“I am sure that everyone has said a bag, so I must find something a bit more original. Even though it’s true, it was, indeed, a bag.”

Melusine Ruspoli, 19 years

It is impossible to talk about Melusine without talking about her father, Alessando “Dado” Ruspoli, one of the most extravagant aristocrats of the 20th century. The constant reminder of her great past often bothers this 19-year-old Roman, whom all of Italy is currently in love with. Our colleagues at L’Officiel Italy, too, put her on the cover of one of their recent issues. She is proud of her lineage and speaks of her father as a hero who inspires her. She grew up between the palazzo Ruspoli in Rome, right next to the palazzo Fendi, and the château Ruspoli di Vignanello, where she was always surrounded by horses and where she attended lavish society parties. She is getting ready to leave for London to study marketing and she would like to work for a luxury brand. Her impeccable French (thanks to her mother) could well lead her to Paris one day. Unless Fendi…

Your first Fendi piece?

“Interestingly enough, though I live so close to the house of Fendi, I got my first Fendi bag only last year. Many others have followed after that.”

Edmée Nicolis di Robilant, 18 years

When you are a descendant of one of the greatest army chiefs in the history of Italy, you inherit his traits by default. Edmée has inherited her upright posture, restraint and dignified decorum from Mario Nicolis di Robilant, the famous general of the Italian army during the First World War. However, at the age of 18, she proves that the codes of Roman aristocracy are changing with the times. She speaks five languages (mainly thanks to her English and American grandmothers) and wants to be a model, while at the same time, she continues to pursue her guitar and singing classes. To succeed, she says she follows the example of her mother, a famous Trans-alpine television producer. Eddy, as she is lovingly called, does not tell us more about her plans. “One mustn’t speak of one’s dreams,” she says coyly. Military restraint, indeed!

Your first Fendi piece?

“It was a bag. Going by my style, it is not hard to guess that it was black!”

Photographs by Alessandro Furchino. Styling by Audrey Taillée.

From the January 2015 issue of L’Officiel India.