Who is Emilio Pucci? Here’s everything you need to know about the “Prince of Prints”, and his vibrant designs, including how to pronounce Emilio Pucci
“Gaiety is one of the most important elements I brought to fashion.
I brought it through color.”
-Mr. Pucci
With his unique motifs, geometric patterns, and joyous colors, Emilio Pucci (pronounced EH-MEE-LEE-OH POO-CHEE) revolutionized the world of fashion. In a time when women were constricted by rigid, highly structured clothing (Christian Dior’s New Look, for instance), Pucci liberated them with his free-flowing fluid designs and stretchy fabrics.
His vibrant optical designs earned him the title of “Prince of Prints.” But Emilio Pucci was more than just that—he was a marquis, an aviator, a skier—and, most of all, a rebel against conventions.
Now that you know how to pronounce Emilio Pucci, here are five things you need to know about Emilio Pucci!
Five things you need to know about Emilio Pucci
(1) He pioneered the leggings…Pucci became known for stretchy shantung pants he called “fuseaux” (from “affusolato”, Italian for “tapered”. Practical and feminine at the same time, he styled them with miniskirts and platform heels. And yes, they are what we today call… leggings!
(2) …the Capri pants…That’s right! Emilio Pucci (whose first boutique was in Capri, opposite the famous beach club La Canzone del Mare) is also credited with inventing the Capri pants, a cropped version of his tapered pants that took the world by storm in the 1950s.
(3) and the palazzo pants!
Pucci introduced a style that was unusual and innovative for the time–wide leg, flowing pants that followed the curves of the female body. Though Pucci didn’t invent this style (wide leg silk pants were popular in Asian fashion), it became a trend in the 1960s, arguably thanks to Pucci.
(4) He drew inspiration from his travels.
Sicilian mosaics, Mediterranean landscapes, African motifs…Pucci’s kaleidoscopic prints were inspired by different cultures. He looked at the world with curiosity, and transformed what he saw into bright, colorful designs.
(5) His signature appears throughout the prints.
Marjorie Griswold, Pucci’s retail supporter, suggested he sign his name within the print itself, because the motif could be easily copied. So, you can easily verify the authenticity of an Emilio Pucci garment by looking for the designer’s name, “Emilio”.
“For him prints were rhythm and movement,
and in prints he expressed a message of contagious happiness.”
-Laudomia Pucci
So, who is Emilio Pucci?
Emilio Pucci, Marquis of Barsento, is born in 1914, into one of Florence’s oldest aristocratic families.
After studying between Italy and the US, participating in the 1936 Winter Olympics, and serving as a Pilot Lieutenant during WW2, his fashion career begins, unexpectedly, in 1947, when he designs colorful skiwear for himself and a female friend. Fashion photographer Toni Frissell can’t help but notice the original ski outfits, and her photographs are published in the magazine Harper’s Bazaar.
So, almost overnight, Pucci becomes a fashion designer. He’s asked by the editor of Harper’s Bazaar to design skiwear for a story on European Winter Fashion, and, in 1950, he opens his first boutique in Capri. His bold, brightly colored designs are appreciated worldwide. Pucci’s use of stretch fabrics and free flowing lines is also revolutionary—his clothes don’t constrict the female body, but rather give women unprecedented freedom of movement.
In the 1960s, Pucci’s modern and glamorous creations are worn by celebrities and fashion icons of the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Sophia Loren, and Marilyn Monroe, who is even buried wearing a Pucci outfit. After his death in 1992, fashion editor Carrie Donovan writes that he “personified a moment, rather a long one in history”.
Emilio Pucci today
With Emilio’s daughter, Laudonia, at the helm of the company, today the label continues to offer joyful, colorful, stylish garments.
Emilio Pucci dresses are exuberant yet easy to wear. We love this Farfalle-Print Plissé Mini Dress from the SS22 collection–the butterfly print and the delicate plissé make this mini dress feminine and chic. And the lightweight, wrinkle-proof fabric makes it the perfect dress to bring along on your travels!
If you’re looking for a cleaner silhouette, look no further than this Africana-Print Dress! We love how the sustainable jersey and silk gently hug the curves of the body.
The label’s leggings are a staple for every woman who likes to stay comfortable without sacrificing style–wear them to the gym or dress them up with a flowing blouse. We are obsessed with these Bandierine-Print Leggings, cut from soft eco-Lycra and featuring the Emilio Pucci signature Bandierine pattern.
All of the label’s garments, from dresses to accessories to leggings, are manufactured in Italy. And, today, the brand is adopting a policy of sustainability–most swimwear pieces, for example, are made from Econyl, a form of nylon made entirely from waste products.
With all the knowledge of how to pronounce Emilio Pucci and appreciation for his label’s heritage…discover our selection of Emilio Pucci clothing for women and Emilio Pucci for kids.
About the Author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.