From Palace to Prints - Emilio Pucci

Emilio Pucci was born in 1914 into an aristocrat family and lived in a Palace in Florence, Italy. He had a priviledged upbringing; at an early age he was encouraged in sports; tennis, fencing, skiing, swimming and racing cars.

He went to the Winter Olympic Games at 17 with the Italian team. Later winning a University scholarship attending Reed University in Oregon where he was asked to design the Reed College Ski Team's attire and the rest is history.

Pucci's designs gained momentum and further interest when he was asked to create skiwear in Europe for a shoot in Harpers Bazaar.

His bold patterns were widely known on stretch fabrics like swimwear and particularly patterned designs for silk scarves.

Encouraged to put his prints on blouses by Niemann Marcus, Pucci went on to create intricately patterned silk print dresses.

He opened a boutique in Capri, where he met Baroness Christina Nannini, his Botticelli, whom he married in 1959.

After his passing in 1992 his daughter became the company Chief.

Pucci is now part of the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey group and his daughter Laudomia remains the Image Director.

LVMH brought in Christian Lacroix, Matthew Williamson and Peter Dundas between 2002 and the present day to lead the label with contemporary takes on Pucci's indomitable style.

Enjoy.