For me, Pucci is a serious contender on the greatest designers of all time list.
After initially designing a line of ski wear, then swimwear Pucci soon moved onto designing for his newly set up haute couture house (on the Isle of Capri) where his now infamous bold patterned silk scarves were first created. Not long after that Puccis' talents were recognised and he was encouraged to to use his designs and knowledge of stretch fabrics for a line of blouses and wrinkle-free printed silk dresses.
By the early 1950s, Pucci was achieving international recognition and success. He, received the Neiman-Marcus Award in Dallas and the Burdine's Sunshine Award in Miami. Marilyn Monroe was buried in one of his dresses, and his designs have be worn by everyone from Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy and Madonna to modern fashion icons such as Nicole Richie (and SO many more).
In 1965 Pucci was hired by Braniff International Airways to design a new range of uniforms for their Air Hostesses. Possibly the coolest job ever right?
Pucci ended up designing seven complete outfits for Braniff hostesses, pilots and ground crew between 1965 and 1977 which included turtlenecks, t-shirts, crop jackets and culottes. One the more unusual innovations was the "bubble helmet" – a clear plastic hood worn by the Air Hostesses for walking between the terminal building and aircraft... it protected their hairdos from rain and the blast of jet engines. Genius.
So to here's to Emilio Pucci, I salute (and love) you!
