In the previous post, we highlighted designer Emilio Pucci's extraordinary life up to the end of WWII but his exploits as a soldier and very good friend are only the beginning of the story! Just read on to learn more about this fascinating figure and then find a luxury villa in Florence to trace his footsteps across the city that birthed him.
Pucci first designed clothes for the Reed College skiing team when he was studying there as a young man and he then gained recognition for his ability during is exile in Switzerland in 1947. Pieces that he had designed for a friend were photographed by Toni Frissell, a photographer working for Harper's Bazaar, which lead to him being asked to design skiwear for a story on European Winter Fashion for the winter 1948 issue of the magazine. When his pieces took off, he set up a haute couture house at the resort of Canzone del Mare on the Isle of Capri.
Pucci first designed clothes for the Reed College skiing team when he was studying there as a young man and he then gained recognition for his ability during is exile in Switzerland in 1947. Pieces that he had designed for a friend were photographed by Toni Frissell, a photographer working for Harper's Bazaar, which lead to him being asked to design skiwear for a story on European Winter Fashion for the winter 1948 issue of the magazine. When his pieces took off, he set up a haute couture house at the resort of Canzone del Mare on the Isle of Capri.
The label began as a swimwear line in 1949 but Pucci quickly expanded the brand with other items such as brightly coloured, boldly patterned silk scarves. Success continued but the reputation of the brand was secured in the 1960s when Marilyn Monroe became a fan. In some of her final photographs ever, she was captured in his designs and other fashion icons such as Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy and, later, Madonna were all seen in his clothes. His iconic uniforms for the employees of Braniff Airways and his design for the Apollo 15 mission patch both demonstrate how completely he entered the popular imagination of the world in the 20th century. Pucci also worked as a politician in Italy for a time in the 60s and 70s.
When he passed away in 1992, his daughter, Laudomia Pucci, continued to design under the Pucci name and the label was brought into the French LVMH luxury goods empire when they acquired 67% of Pucci in 2000. Today, the label remains iconic and relevant; counts Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Kylie Minogue and Alexa Chung as fans; and has boutiques all over the globe.
As iconic as the brand is, the man behind it was just as fascinating and the whole story is intriguing. Be sure to visit the flagship store while in Florence and then go grab a coffee and mull over what an extraordinary tale there really is behind the label.
