EMILIO PUCCI

The Marchese Emilio Pucci di Barsento

Born in Naples, Italy November 20th, 1914
Descendant from Florentine nobility which dates back to Lorenzo de Medici & Catherine the
Great

The Palazzo Pucci fed Emilio with inspiration and became the seat of his business
An avid skier, joined the Italian National Team in 1934
Scholarship to Reed College in Oregon, where he re-designed the skiing teams uniforms

WORLD WAR II
Became a pilot in the Italian air force

Fell in love with Mussolinis daughter, helped her escape to Switzerland

Was arrested before his own escape and ended up in a Nazi prison
1947 - Inspired to create a special ski suit for his girlfriend to move comfortably and
freely

Harpers Bazaar photo - Lord & Taylor were the first to buy his designs

PUCCI SKI SUITS, 1948

EMILIO OF CAPRI
1949 Opened boutique Emilio of Capri as not to associate with his familys name

Found success with rich foreigners and Hollywood stars who travelled to Capri

frequently
Sold tapered pants, Capri Pants, as well as silk shirts to show off female frame
Became the must have garments for rich travellers

1950, he set up shop in the family palazzo in Florence and begun to show collections

READY-TO-WEAR & LOGO

Pucci was the first Italian ready-to-wear brand and one to

use a logo
Because of the amount of copies of Pucci, he was advised

to begin signing his work

Scripted Emilio into every print instead of last name to
avoid a family scandal

"I am the first

member of my family
to work in a thousand
years"

SILHOUETTES
Shapes were simple and unrestrictive

Body of the woman moved the dress, the dress didnt

create the body of the woman

Forms were so simple that they have held up through the
decades
Very figure flattering

FABRICATION
Developed a lightweight, wrinkle-free silk

jersey that could be rolled to pack easily when

travelling
Wanted to use material that was light but
covering and stretch without using elastomer
Encompasses the idea of garments being easy,

travel-friendly products that were both

technically and visually beautiful

COLOUR & PRINT

Introduced an entire spectrum of colour to a
war-rationed continent
Influenced by his Florentine roots

Prints are often thought as abstract but are

drawings inspired by the sites surrounding him

like iron gates, scrollwork and architecture

ZEITGEIST
WWII is over and Europe becomes a hot
spot for rich travellers

People had more disposable income as

industry grew and were able to travel

internationally
Puccis collections were a piece of that
leisure and luxurious lifestyle of travel and

tourism

Emilio Pucci x Braniff Airlines

Stewardess Uniforms, 1965

FROM LEFT: EMILIO PUCCI, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, D&G, JUST CAVALLI

 New collection of mosaics by

Bisazza, captures the essence of
iconic Emilio Pucci prints
Motifs inspired by three historical
prints of the House of Emilio Pucci:
Collane (1971) Fontana (1968) and
Vivara (1976).

March 2014 Bisazza wears Emilio Pucci

PUCCI REVIVAL
1967 Pucci-mania reached its limit

Designs become less popular in the 1970s resurface in the 1990s

After his death, Pucci continued under the guidance of Emilio Puccis
daughter and wife
Purchased by LVMH in 2000
Current head designer Peter Dundas

I owe my career to a woman,

so I will make it my job to
make them beautiful.
EMILIO PUCCI

(1914-1992)