Clelia decides to open a Turin branch of a Rome fashion salon, thus giving herself the chance to return to her home town. Almost by miracle, she saves the life of a young woman, Rosetta, who had attempted suicide with a drugs overdose in her hotel. The two become friends and Clelia also gets to know Rosetta's other friends in high society. Momina is a woman separated from her husband; she changes lovers like she changes clothes. Nene is instead a successful artist who lives with Lorenzo, a frustrated painter who is envious of his wife. Clelia meanwhile falls in love with Caesar, assistant to the architect of the salon, but he is from a working class background. When Momina discovers that Rosetta had attempted suicide because she was in love with Lorenzo, she does not reprimand Rosetta but instead advises her to stay with him, even though he and Nene are about to get married. Advice that turns out to be very dangerous. The film won the Silver Lion at the Venice Festival and three Silver Ribbons, including one for direction and one for best supporting actress (Valentina Cortese).
