On This Day in 1914

Throughout his career, up until his death in 1992, Florence-born Emilio Pucci was responsible for making the world a brighter place. His colorful prints, in particular, would become the hallmark of his internationally successful fashion brand, which he established on the stylish island of Capri in the 1940s. Born into a wealthy family, he was an enthusiastic sportsmen in his teens, and his initial forays into design brought him swift recognition thanks to the skiwear and swimwear he created with modern, stretch fabrics. By the early 50s, the high profile likes of Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Sophie Loren were among the converts to the Pucci cause, and in 1965, Braniff International Airways followed suit, commissioning Pucci to design uniforms for its air hostesses in a bid to make air travel more glamorous. The impact of Emilio’s hyper-modern vision for Braniff cannot be understated and has rightfully become part of fashion history. Individual items of clothing could be added or detached depending on the weather and the B.I logo was seamlessly incorporated into a textile print, while the bubble helmets—designed to protect the elaborate hairdos of the era’s “trolley dollies”—looked fabulously space age.