EOC Chapter 3 Exercise

“Emilio Pucci was the kingpin of textile reinvention and beautiful prints in the fifties and sixties. His designs revolutionized the world of fashion, knocking the previous trend of dull colors and heavy fabrics out of fashion and developing a fan following that was almost unheard of at the time.” 1

Emilio Pucci, also known as the Prince of Prints, was born Marchese di Barsento Emilio Pucci in November of 1914 in Naples, Italy. Born and raised in Italy, Pucci was a hardworking scholar and skier. He was a member to the Olympic Italian skiing team and received a scholarship to Reed College in Oregon. As a member of this team, Pucci decided to design the team uniforms, which is where he began his career in design.

In 1947, a photographer for Harper’s Bazaar photographed Emilio Pucci in his uniform which he had designed himself. The photographer and her editor were so impressed with the uniform that Emilio was asked to create and design the skiwear for an article on European Winter Fashion. This got Pucci enough attention to begin his own clothing line for women as well as allow him to open a couture house in 1950 in the Isle of Capri.

“What started out as a need to design new and more functional skiwear for his ski team became a fashion empire for Emilio Pucci.” 2

After announcing himself as a designer, Emilio Pucci was able to create designs and garments straight from his imagination. The result of this was his well-known bold and colorful kaleidoscope prints.

“Pucci's brightly patterned silks became an international sensation in the 1950s and 1960s, when fashion icons like Jacqueline Kennedy were often spotted in his kaleidoscopic designs.” 3

“Pucci not only changed the color spectrum of high-end fashion, he also made ample use of stretchy fabrics that had previously been relegated to swim and ski wear. He moved away from the heavily tailored looks of the 1940s and into the realm of comfortable, wearable separates.” 3

When the 1970s came along, Pucci’s designs began to fade out in popularity. His fashions had fallen out of Vogue and the brand remained on shake-y ground until 1991. In 1991, designers such as Donatella Versace and Moschino began to show designs heavily influenced by Emilio Pucci on the runway. One year later, Emilio Pucci died and the company was taken over by his daughter.

Today, the Emilio Pucci brand is doing better than ever. In 2000, the company was bought by LVMH and has been operated under the admired name since.

“Pucci now lives on, under the guidance of his daughter who holds the position of image director and Christian Lacroix who was recently named the artistic director and is a good match for the brand, considering his mastery of color and affection for sixties and seventies styling.” 4

It is quite clear that Emilio Pucci’s legacy has left a strong mark on the fashion industry. Today, you see Pucci clothing all over the runways. The popular bold prints have come back into style with the change of the century and have been welcomed open-heartedly.

“… for the style that made its name in the 50's and 60's has become the subject of both private and museum collections and his influence on textiles and prints is still very relevant in today's world of couture fashion. … It is obvious that it was Pucci’s combination of elegance and excitement that resulted in his tremendous success.” 4

1 http://www.lifeinitaly.com/fashion/emilio-pucci.asp
2 http://articles.directorym.com/Emilio_Pucci-a802.html
3 http://www.zimbio.com/100+Most+Influential+People+in+Fashion/articles/171/Fashion+Influential+69+Emilio+Pucci
4 http://articles.directorym.com/Emilio_Pucci-a802.html