Emilio Pucci – Kristen Laird Design

Emilio Pucci reached the peak of his popularity in the mid-1960’s and it was during this time that he started to apply his signature style to a variety of non-fashion products – including items for the home. This expansion really started in 1961 when Pucci was commissioned to design a line of colorful and bright ceramic vases and dinnerware for the German luxury brand, Rosenthal China. In 1965, he continued with his expansion into home goods by becoming the first fashion designer to create his own line of bed and bath linens manufactured by Springmaid. Finally, in 1968 an Argentinean rug company called Dandolo & Primi contacted Pucci asking him to produce a line of tufted wool rugs inspired by his prints. Like his clothing, the items Pucci created for the home were whimsical and chic with a vibrant and colorful palette. Many of the originals can still be found at various online auctions or on eBay but I would love for Pucci to come out with a new line of home goods inspired by some of these originals! Enjoy!

Ad for Emilio Pucci Springmaid Collection.

Original Packaging for Julia Pattern Sheets from Emilio Pucci Springmaid Collection.

Emilio Pucci Navy Printed Beach Towel (Sold at Saks Fifth Avenue).

Emilio Pucci Sioux-Print Beach Towel (Sold at Saks Fifth Ave).

Emilio Pucci Spring / Summer 2010 Beach Towels (Sold on Emilio Pucci Website).

Wool Pucci Carpet in Vivera Pattern.

Original used in the main room of the 64th and Madison flagship boutique in New York City. Pucci would use his carpets to decorate his various boutiques as seen below.

The rugs were also used as decoration in his Florentine Palace (below).

In 2001 the Pucci company joined forces with Cappellini to produce a new furniture line designed by Patrick Norguet and sold by Unica Home.

Cappellini Rive Droite Armchair by Patrick Norguet

And just in case you are overwhelmed with the sudden urge to put some Pucci in your home right away – here are a few great items on the market…

Emilio Pucci Throw Pillows. Sold by Modern One on 1st Dibs.

1960 Pair of Italian Glass Lamps Designed by Emilio Pucci for his Rome Showroom. Sold on Gary Rubinstein Antiques on 1st Dibs.

60’s Chic White Lacquered Stools Re-Upholstered in original Pucci Fabric.

Finally, to end this fun journey through all things Pucci I will leave you with some remarkable images from the Pucci 60th anniversary party in Miami. Held at the waterfront estate of Norma and Luis Quintero; the renowned visual artist Gerard Cholot transformed the estates ballroom into the absolutely gorgeous installation pictured below…

Classic Pucci prints were wild, hot and madly stylised; a grab-bag of sinuous Art Nouveau blooms, Op Art graphics and Arabian exotica. The designer’s bold colour clashes were always brilliant. But the shapes were the last word in ease: shift dresses, pyjama pants, tunic tops and billowing djellabas. Pucci had the soul of a modernist: there was never a superfluous seam or fastening. – James Sherwood The Independent

Cotton velveteen capes by Emilio Pucci from 60’s and 70’s at the new archive devoted to his work at the palazzo pucci in Florence.

“I revolutionized fashion because of Intuition. Certain things were in the air.” – Emilio Pucci

New York Fashion Week has come to an end and my favorite fashion designers have been on my mind. Ranking top on this list is Emilio Pucci. A master at using explosive colors in geometric and organic shapes, Emilio Pucci has been a long time favorite fashion designer of mine. Sometimes featuring as many as 15 different colors in one design, wearing Pucci can make you feel like a walking canvas. For me, there is nothing quite compares to a Pucci Print!

Marchese Emilio Pucci was born on November 20th 1914 to one of Florence’s oldest nobel families with a lineage that dates back to thirteenth-century Florence. His ancestors were painted by such artists as Botticelli and Leonardo Da Vinci. It was Emilio Pucci’s passion for skiing that brought him into the world of fashion. As a member of the 1934 Italian Olympic ski team, Pucci designed his own uniform, along with the uniforms for his entire ski team at Reed College. Eventually, this new streamlined ski outfit was featured in Harper’s Bazaar and landed him a position designing women’s ski clothing for Lord and Taylor under the White Stag label in 1948. Two years later, with his visionary sense of style, and eye for color and design, Pucci opened a fashion house unlike any other. Marilyn Monroe was even buried in one of his dresses!

Above Pucci photographed by Toni Frissel – a photographer for Harper’s Bazaar.

Pucci remains true to its roots – in 2007 they designed a line of skis and ski gear for Rossignol.

Emilio Pucci Rossignol Ski Uniform

2007 line of skis for Rossignol designed by Pucci

Pucci’s clothing was designed for the natural more active woman of the post-war era. In the 1950’s Pucci made pants a way of life for women. He was one of the first designers of his time to develop his own logo and actively expanded his line to incorporate new ventures. A perfect example of this is from 1967 -1977 Pucci was hired by Braniff International Airways to design new and updated uniforms for their flight attendants.