NEWS FLASH: Three exclusive V&A Harper’s Bazaar covers have landed in store and online



March 5, 2014

The Pucci family – headquarters located in an elaborate palace in Florence – have kindly granted Harper’s Bazaar and the V&A access to their archive to use Emilio Pucci’s original and rare hand-drawn print designs.

History
The Harper’s Bazaar, V&A exclusive, Pucci covers for the April issue are a brilliant celebration of the history of Italian fashion and textile design. This wonderful story and the context, within which this creative talent developed, will be explored through the V&A exhibition, The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014 (5 April –27 July).

To tie in with this highly anticipated show the April issue carries an Italian fashion theme throughout and provides a snapshot into the development of the Pucci family and how they became a fashion dynasty.

The label started on the slopes in Switzerland, when Emilio Pucci’s work was discovered by a Harper’s Bazaar photographer. What began with ski garb has expanded into an empire. This profiling of strong, creative and talented individuals and organisations contributing to Italy’s reputation for quality and style is explored through the V&A publication The Glamour of Italian Fashion.

Limited edition Pucci cover for Harpers Bazaar

Inspiration
The Pucci kaleidoscope-like prints have become instantly recognizable. The designs are all swirls and whorls, an explosion of pattern and colour. The style introduced free-moving patterns and fabrics and a new color palette into womenswear. Despite being described as the essence of modernity the inspiration for its design were actually rooted in Italian renaissance art and history.  The designs and colours were adapted from renaissance paintings then by constantly pushing fabric and printing technologies, the Pucci designs developed. This interesting history of the Pucci patterns makes it’s relevance for these V&A exclusive covers, a museum founded to display the best of art and design a perfect match.

Limited edition Pucci cover for Harper's Bazaar

Reputation and Legacy
The Pucci sense of style, and an eye for color and design has been adopted by the most glamorous of stars throughout history. Jacqueline Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe wore his dresses. Today, Victoria Beckham, Elizabeth Hurley, and Kylie Minogue are all flaunting the Pucci label.

These V&A exclusive Harper’s Bazaar magazines offer an exciting collaboration that harmoniously and vibrantly celebrates the world of design. Two of these limited edition covers are sold exclusively in store, with one exclusively online, so make sure you collect all three.

Limited edition Pucci cover for Harper's Bazaar

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