Synopses & Reviews
Working quietly and without much public attention for more than 20 years, American fashion designer Ralph Rucci suddenly became a headline topic in 2002, when he was invited to show his collection at the haute couture in Paristhe first American to receive such an invitation since Mainbocher in the 1930s. This sumptuously illustrated book is the first to explore in depth Ruccis life and work, including the inspirations behind the extraordinarily beautiful and very expensive clothes he creates.
The contributors to the volume explore many aspects of Ruccis genius and emergence as a master in the fashion world. Valerie Steele places his life and work in the context of modern fashion history and discusses his connections with such figures as Balenciaga and Halston. Patricia Mears closely examines the garments he designs, reveals what makes them so special, and considers influences on his work. Clare Sauro describes Ruccis accessories, which complete the aesthetic vision that his fashions embody. The book is enriched with more than 100 photographs that include runway images, fashion shots of Ruccis clients, Chado Ralph Rucci garments from the collection of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology and from his own archives, as well as various inspirational objects and fashions.
Review
“Comprehensive”—Pottstown Mercury Pottstown Mercury
Review
and#8220;The exceptional catalog and#8216;Roberto Capucci: Art into Fashionand#8217;and#8230;reveals a man who is as much architect as tailor.and#8221; and#8212;
The Wall Street Journaland#160;
Review
and#8220;For those who did not have an opportunity to view the spring/summer 2011 retrospective of Italian fashion designer Roberto Capucciand#8217;s work held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this catalogue provides a visually spectacular survey of his career.and#8221; and#8212;Studio International
Review
"[A] beautiful book for your reference library."and#8212;Threads
Review
"This heavily and beautifully illustrated book by Blum (Philadelphia Museum of Art) is a necessary addition to any fashion or history of fashion collection."and#8212;C. Stevens, Choice
Review
and#8220;Comprehensiveand#8221;and#8212;Pottstown Mercury
Synopsis
A stunning survey of the work of renowned Italian fashion designer Roberto Capucci
Italian couturier Roberto Capucci (b. 1930) is revered by contemporary fashion designers for his innovative silhouettes and masterful use of color and materials. Capucci refers to his creations as "studies in form," and draws inspiration from a multitude of sources, including art, architecture, and nature. This beautifully illustrated book, the companion to the first exhibition of Capucci's work in the United States, examines his career from the 1950s to the present in the context of the rise of Italian fashion.
Capucci's designs first captured the attention of the international press in 1951, when he presented his collection in Florence. Considered one of Italy's greatest talents, he experimented with construction techniques and unconventional materials such as raffia, wire, and stones. He refused to compromise his artistic vision to commercial concerns, and after withdrawing from the formal fashion world in the early 1980s, he presented one collection a year, each in a different city around the world. Featuring more than 80 extraordinary works, including the iconic "sculpture dresses" with their inventive use of pleating, color, and form, Roberto Capucci is a captivating look at this brilliant designer who transcends the conventional line between fashion and art.
Synopsis
Italian couturier Roberto Capucci (b. 1930) is revered by contemporary fashion designers for his innovative silhouettes and masterful use of color and materials. Capucci refers to his creations as "studies in form," and draws inspiration from a multitude of sources, including art, architecture, and nature. This beautifully illustrated book, the companion to the first exhibition of Capucci's work in the United States, examines his career from the 1950s to the present in the context of the rise of Italian fashion.
Capucci's designs first captured the attention of the international press in 1951, when he presented his collection in Florence. Considered one of Italy's greatest talents, he experimented with construction techniques and unconventional materials such as raffia, wire, and stones. He refused to compromise his artistic vision to commercial concerns, and after withdrawing from the formal fashion world in the early 1980s, he presented one collection a year, each in a different city around the world. Featuring more than 80 extraordinary works, including the iconic "sculpture dresses" with their inventive use of pleating, color, and form, Roberto Capucci is a captivating look at this brilliant designer who transcends the conventional line between fashion and art.
About the Author
Valerie Steele is director and chief curator, Patricia Mears is deputy director, and Clare Sauro is assistant curator of accessories, all at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. Valerie Steele is the author of more than a dozen books, including The Corset: A Cultural History; Fashion, Italian Style; and Fifty Years of Fashion, all published by Yale University Press.