Roberto Capucci Celebrated In New Art Exhibition

The name Roberto Capucci is probably a name that doesn't ring a bell when you think of the power houses of couture designers in the last 100 years, but in fact Capucci is one of most famous designers in the history of Italian fashion. According to the Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Museum Of Art will be showing an exhibit of  Capucci's masterful pieces in an art exhibit entitled Art Into Fashion showing from March 16th though June 5th.

Born in 1930, Robert Capucci rose up the fashion ranks quickly, assisting designer Emilio Schuberth in his later teenage years until he opened up his own studio in 1950. From then on Capucci has graced us with his architectural approach to fashion designing.

In 1956, the international press praised him as the best Italian designer. Through the years Capucci earned his title as one of the best designers in Italy and received many awards and praises from designers such as Christian Dior for his accomplishments. In 1965, Capucci released his first mens fragrance entitled Capucci.

Capucci was a true artist in the respect that he designed merely the love of the art not for commercial following,most of his shows held in private. Interestingly enough Capucci refused to duplicate the designs of his garments. If a patron wanted to buy one of his garments they had to be the same measurements as the model who originally wore his gowns.

Through the late 60s into the 1970s Capucci shifted his work to costume design for theater and films. His work in costume design was later noted as the foundation of his works in the later parts of his career. In the latter part of his career, his garments were finally recognized fully as works of art. Some of the largest museums in the world, from the Galleria di Arte Moderna to Guggenheim Museum in New York displayed art exhibits of his work.

Usually showing close to 100 pieces in his art exhibitions, Capucci's pieces are if anything a study of architecture around the human form.
His pieces have the ability to softly flow in three dimensions. Every angle you look at in his pieces is a new take on his garment, showing layers upon layers of different angles and shapes that are sometimes hard to imagine being done on a piece of clothing.

Not only did Capucci explore the realms of archetecture on garments with shapes, lines, and angles he also explored color with his pieces. Capucci had the amazing ability and knowledge of color and had the ability create and blend color combinations with his fabrics. Naturally mastering color theory, Capucci was not only able explore color but he was able to pull back and explore the absence of color. He seemed to know when color was not needed in his garments and shift the focal point to the actual construction of his pieces.

Not only were his garments praised as works of art but the fashion sketches he created of his garments were praised as well. Beautifully drawn pictures of flourishing shapes are often put on display along with his garments. It is truly amazing to see his creative process, recreating every detail of his vision on paper and translating them identically into something tangible. Celebrating his 81st birthday in December, Capucci as a living legend in the the art world and his work should be a study to not only fashion designers but artist, and those who have an  appreciation and respect of the arts.




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