Sophia Loren Style

Sophia Loren, the Italian film star, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Two Women (1960), the first performance in a foreign-language film to win. This collection celebrates her screen-siren glamour with the Pretty Retro pieces that follow the hourglass: wiggle dresses, swing dresses, hostess dresses and tea dresses, circle and pencil skirts, capri pants and fitted tops, in wine, teal, navy and black. All of it is designed in England, then made by hand in Europe.

How to dress like Sophia Loren

Start at the waist. A cinched waist and a close-fitting bodice give the hourglass line, and a deep colour sets it off. With 45 pieces here, it helps to choose by shape.

• Wiggle dresses are the sculpted choice, cut close through the bodice and hips in stretch bengaline. The Rita and Lola have sweetheart necklines, the Norma a one-shoulder neckline and the Audrey a high boat neck. See all of our wiggle dresses.
• Swing dresses keep the nipped-in waist and add a full skirt. The 1950s Swing Dress has pleats above and below the bust, a three-quarter swing skirt and petal cap sleeves; see our swing dresses.
• Hostess dresses and tea dresses are the softer, 1940s way to a defined waist; see our 1940s dresses.

Skirts, trousers and tops

Circle skirts have deep hidden pockets and sit at the natural waist, and pencil skirts are slim and close to the body: both are in our skirts. High-waisted capri pants, cropped to mid-calf, are in our vintage trousers. Add a Bardot top, a keyhole sweater, a tie top or a cardigan from our tops to finish the outfit. Sizes run from UK 8 to 18 for dresses, skirts and trousers, and S to XL for most knits; the size guide has the measurements.