Pucci to Gucci

01 Feb 2020

Surely flight attendants dressed like this would offer better meal options than single-digit pretzels and honey-tinged nuts.

These fabulous uniforms are the creation of Italian designer Emilio Pucci, who was born 1914 in Naples. Known particularly for his colourful prints, Pucci created six collections for Braniff Air staff in the mid 1960’s.

If you want to see some 20th Century Italian fashion from the now-deceased Pucci and some of his counterparts – Prada, Fortuny, Schiaparelli – then pop by Il Museo at the Italian Cultural Centre for a free boutique exhibit: All’ Italiana 1900-2000.

‘Regardless of its long tradition of fine fabrics and crafts, Italy did not become a major international fashion centre until after 1950,’ we read. ‘This exhibition includes garments chosen to represent some of the most talented and famous Italian designers over the last one hundred years.’

The clothes in the exhibit come from the collection of fashion historian Ivan Sayers, the Museum of Vancouver, and the Society for the Museum of Original Costume, with the assistance of Claus Jahnke.