Emilio Pucci Palazzo Pants

By the mid-1960s, the international fashion press, enamored of his dazzling scarves and slithery dresses in sensuous psychedelic silk jersey, had dubbed Florentine designer Emilio Pucci the Prince of Prints. Less well known is that, starting in the early 1950s, Pucci applied his colorful, abstract patterns to static angular mediums such as ceramics, floors and furniture, imbuing them with movement, not to mention glamour. He was the first fashion designer to enter the lifestyle market, founding the successful brand that exists today.

Born in 1914 to one of Italy’s oldest noble families, Emilio Pucci, Marchese Pucci di Barsento, was a member of the postwar international jet set, hopping from beach to mountain to city. His fashion career began unexpectedly in 1947, when he created a revolutionary stretch ski outfit that was photographed on the Swiss slopes for Harper’s Bazaar.

Eschewing a life of aristocratic glamour, the self-taught Pucci opened a boutique on Capri dedicated to simple resort clothing (think capri pants) that evoked the Mediterranean’s undulating waves and refreshingly bright colors. At the time, luxury fashion was as constricted as a Dior cocktail dress, but the Swinging Sixties were on the horizon. Signed with what Vogue International editor Suzy Menkes calls a “handwritten ‘Emilio’ flourish” — a concept, she points out, as novel as that of designer ready-to-wear — his designs were soon seen on celebrities like Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.

From the airline uniforms he created for Braniff in the 1960s to the emblem he crafted for the Apollo XV space mission in 1971, Pucci’s designs were visionary. In spite of his traditional roots (or because of them), the Prince of Prints was forward thinking and outward looking. Pucci put his signature flourish on patterns that were flexible — first for fashion, then for furnishings and objects. Whether on fabric or foam, shelves or sails, as he first explained some 70 years ago, the ornamental designs work in “continuous motion.” Venturing into nontraditional design partnerships, he laid the groundwork for a future brand, a classic legacy that his daughter Laudomia Pucci continues today.

Find vintage Emilio Pucci evening dresses, scarves, skirts and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.

The pants chosen for an outfit can elevate it to a true fashion triumph. From casual black trousers to a wedding pantsuit, there is a good pair of vintage or designer pants for every wardrobe.

Jeans are a staple of casual wear — an old pair of Levi’s 501s and a white tee remain an iconic duo. But jeans can also make a statement. The cut and fit of one’s jeans can complement a figure and accentuate a style. Bootcut or skinny jeans can be paired with looser shirts and blouses; more fitted tops can play with wider legs such as bell-bottoms or flares. (This will come as no surprise to the younger millennials leading the resurrection of 1990s fashion.) Vintage denim gives an outfit a classic look, while designer jeans, like a pair from Versace, can prove provocative as part of any ensemble.

Pantsuits are a stylized suit with pants and a matching jacket worn by women in business and semiformal settings. Vintage pantsuits and jumpsuits — in which the pants and top are one piece — come in a variety of styles and cuts for every body shape and occasion. Today many designers create fashionable pantsuits that can be worn to glamorous events.

Whether long or short, casual or formal, vintage and designer pants and other clothing on 1stDibs will have the perfect fit.