Pucci Prints

Pucci clothes always remind me of summer. During the 60s and 70s-the designs were brightly-colored, effortless, comfy, and audaciously patterned. Pucci experimented with many different materials suited for his trademark sportswear. Typically, he used nylon because it was easy to maintain and resistant-and helanca which could be stretched to up to five times without losing its shape (there were also many pieces made of jersey). Pucci was inspired by Hippie style for cotton djellabas-the Arab influenced pyjama trousers.
Using geometric prints, Pucci drew his color palette from natural and exotic landscapes of the Cote d’Azur and Mediterranean islands. The designs were meant to evoke a youthful and practical style that could be worn all day.

George Barris

Gian Paolo Barbieri

Bert Stern

Barbieri

Lumachi

Horst

Franco Rubartelli

Steven Meisel

Alessandro Mossotti

Rubartelli

Pucci's Palazzo

Irving Penn

Horst

Sandro Morricone

Rubartelli

Barbieri

Pucci and his daughter

Vogue 1964

Mossotti

Sathoshi

Acapulco 1966

1966

Barbieri

Henry Clarke

(Assouline, Conde Nast Publications, Inc., Emilio Pucci Archives)

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Emilio Pucci Capsula - 1960

 Would you have guessed this jumpsuit by Emilio Pucci dates to 1960?  Pucci called this piece the "capsula" (which means capsule in English) as it encapsulated the body from head to toe.  He made it in several versions and in both prints and solids of a stretch silk/Helanca nylon blend shantung.  The little boots were made to match by Albion for Emilio Pucci.

Above left:  One piece capsula in blue print with V neckline.  Sold in 1960 for $150 (about $1,121 in today's dollar.)
Above right:  Sleeveless top with separate pants gives the look of one piece in a pink print.  Sold in 1960 for $110 (about $822 in today's dollar.)

One piece capsula in pink with a Pucci print silk shirt worn as a jacket.  Set sold in 1960 for $175 (about $1,308 in today's dollar.)

I've never seen one of these capsula jumpsuits for sale anywhere, but Rice and Beans Vintage just listed a pair of the  Albion boots.  Aren't they great?

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Emilio Pucci Silk Jumpsuit - 1965

Told you you'd be surprised! This silk jumpsuit was designed by Emilio Pucci in 1965. While Pucci was famous for his prints, he also designed clothing in solid colors.

This pink silk evening gown with lace-hemmed pants and matching shoes was from Pucci's 1964 line.

Emilio Pucci, the Marchese di Barsento was born in Naples, Italy in 1914 to one of Italy's oldest noble families. After bouncing around to several colleges in Italy and the U.S., he was awarded his doctorate in political science in 1938. He served in the Italian Air Force during WWII, and was a staunch supporter of Mussolini's Fascist regime.

Pucci got his start in fashion when a skiing outfit he had designed for a friend in stretch knit fabric was noticed by Harper's Bazaar photographer Toni Frizell. The magazine featured several of Pucci's ski designs in the winter of 1948, and they were an instant sensation. He then left the Air Force and opened his own boutique in Capri.

Pucci started with a line of swimwear using stretch fabrics in 1949, but soon moved on to boldly printed silk scarves which would lead to the iconic signed patterns he is known for.

In the 1950s, Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus encouraged Pucci to produce those same patterns on silk blouses that were paired with pants in solid colors. The set shown above is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Marilyn Monroe often wore Pucci, and was even buried in her favorite chartreuse green silk jersey dress that was designed by Emilio.

Although his designs in solid colors are outstanding, Pucci will always be known for his use of wild prints. The hooded cape above is from 1965.

These dresses and hats were from the 1968 line. This is Pucci with two of the models from the show.

As for the turquoise jumpsuit I showed you on Friday? I like to imagine it was meant to be worn with these Pucci gold harem shoes from 1965, also in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This late 1960s silk jersey sundress by Pucci comes with a matching jacket and is currently available for purchase at Couture Allure.

For more fun, enjoy this video that features clothing and accessories by Emilio Pucci!

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